💽 Data Survival Guide

The Golden Rule: 3-2-1

Don't put all your eggs in one basket. To guarantee your data survives modern threats, follow this formula:

⚠️ The New Threat: Ransomware

Today, the 3-2-1 rule isn't enough because hackers can lock your computer AND your attached backup drive.

We need two extra numbers (3-2-1-1-0):

• 1 Immutable/Offline Copy: A backup that cannot be changed (Read-Only) or is physically unplugged (Air-Gapped).
• 0 Errors: You must TEST your backups (Restore Test) to ensure there is no data rot.

🔌 The Air-Gap Dilemma: When is it safe to plug in?

A common question is: "What if a virus is quietly sleeping on my PC? Won't I just back up the virus to my safe air-gapped drive?"

1. The Solution: Versioning

If you only keep one version of a backup and overwrite it with corrupted files, you lose everything. You must have multiple versions. You can do this by using the "Drive Rotation" method (swapping Drive A, Drive B, and Drive C every week) or by using backup software that saves historical snapshots of your files.

2. The "Pre-Flight" Checklist

You can never be 100% sure a PC is perfectly clean, but you can drastically lower the risk before plugging in your offline drive by following this mantra:

• Spot-Check: Open 3-5 random, important files (a Word doc, an Excel sheet, a PDF). Do they open normally? If yes, active ransomware hasn't locked them yet.
• Scan: Run a quick Antivirus or Anti-Malware scan just before you back up.
• Connect & Backup: Plug the drive in. Close your email and web browser (no multitasking), and run the backup immediately.
• Disconnect: Unplug the drive the exact second it is done. Never leave it plugged in while you eat lunch or sleep!