Absolutely since something like SQL Server typically has the data files open all the time (even when the apps that use the data are shut down). However, SQL Server Express apps that have the data locally or in a peer-to-peer setup (which is not all that uncommon for a vertical market application) often have the files available to be encrypted if the SQL Server service is shut down for whatever reason. Just not common.
Unfortunately, VFP apps with VFP data open and close tables as needed and definitely close them when they are shut down. I've seen it many times where some tables are good and some are encrypted because the user was only opening some of them in the course of using the app.
But VFP data is not the only problem, what about something as simple as an INI file, or more likely, Word/Excel docs that are automated, graphic images, and historical PDF reports.
Restoring is only one part of it. You have to consider all the time it takes being down while restores are happening, and the cost of the IT people to get things back to normal. And rebuilding the machine where it was originally opened. I've seen so much time and money lost by people who are tricked into installing ransomware, it is not funny. I wish a couple of them would be tossed in jail and fined to the highest limit to make a point that they can be caught. They are geniuses that we probably would not want to compete with in the software marketplace so it is unlikely.
Easiest way to solve it is to not open stuff that you have no business opening (although they are remarkably engineered), and do religious backups of your data. A lot of companies do not allow attachments.
Ransomware is probably the number one reason we get new subscriptions to CleverFox Backup these days. People get hit, find giant hole in their disaster recovery plan, and then get on with solid, scheduled offsite backups.
Rick White Light Computing, Inc.
www.whitelightcomputing.com
-----Original Message----- From: ProfoxTech [mailto:profoxtech-bounces@leafe.com] On Behalf Of mbsoftwaresolutions@mbsoftwaresolutions.com Sent: Monday, January 09, 2017 04:56 To: profoxtech@leafe.com Subject: VFP tables likely victims for ransomware?
http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/ransomware-now-billion-dollar-year-crim...
Are VFP files more susceptible than say data in a RDBMS like SQL Server or MySQL?
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