In a previous article, I wrote at length on how ransomware is nothing special when it comes to prevention — it's “just” malware, and the same steps you take to protect yourself against malware are the steps you take to protect yourself from ransomware.

Because of ransomware's devastating consequences, however, many people want additional assurance that they're protected, even if they allow such malware to reach their machine. In particular, two questions come up often: what about files stored in services like OneDrive or Dropbox, and what about backups stored on connected external hard drives?

I recently became aware of a couple of features specifically designed to allay those concerns.

This is, unfortunately, an extremely common question.

In fact, it happens to me from time to time as well. Someone forwards me an email with humorous pictures (or better yet, pictures of Corgis), and some or all of them don't display. It's both frustrating and puzzling when it happens.

Email has evolved over the years, and as a result, things aren't always as compatible as we'd like them to be.

I'll review where the incompatibilities are most common, some of the ways pictures can get lost, and one or two workarounds that might help you view those all-important Corgi pictures that someone just sent you.

Sandboxes and virtual machines are two different technologies that share enough characteristics to make them easily confused.

One could confuse matters further by referring to a virtual machine as the ultimate sandbox. That would be an accurate statement, but it really only stirs up the mud in what is already muddy water.

Let's look at the three scenarios: the default case without either, a sandbox, and a virtual machine.

We rely on passwords to protect our online world. At the same time, hackers seem to be getting better at deciphering them.

In response, security folks created something called “two-factor” or “multi-factor” authentication.

It's something I strongly suggest you understand and consider using.

Two-factor authentication relies on two different types of information, both of which must be correct in order to confirm your identity.