How to protect family photos and files from ransomware

October 1, 2026 · Fox News

Think about what you would be most upset to lose if something happened to your computer. For me, it would be the photos and videos you cannot replace. But your computer may also hold years of tax returns, medical records, scanned IDs, insurance paperwork, legal documents and other files you would hate to suddenly lose access to.

That is exactly what makes ransomware so damaging. It can lock or encrypt files so you can no longer open them, then the attacker demands money to give you access again. Even if you pay, there is no guarantee you will get everything back. By the time a ransom message appears on your screen, a lot of the damage may already be done.

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The smarter move is to prepare before that ever happens. Here are the steps I would take to protect the files you care about most and make recovery a lot easier if ransomware ever hits.

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Before choosing a backup method, make a short list of your most important files. You do not have to organize your entire computer in one afternoon. Start with family photos and videos, recent tax returns, medical and insurance records, passports or scanned IDs, mortgage or lease documents, wills, financial statements and work or creative projects. Include files stored in your Downloads, Desktop and Documents folders if they are important to you.

Give files clear names and place them in easy-to-find folders. For example, you might create folders called "Taxes," "Medical," "Home," "Family Photos" and "Important IDs." This makes it easier to back up the right material and find it later. Avoid keeping the only copy of a document in an email inbox, on a phone or inside a single computer folder. Those locations may be convenient, but they should not be your entire backup strategy.

A backup is another copy of a file stored somewhere else. If your computer fails, is stolen or becomes infected, you have a way to recover your information. One commonly recommended approach is the 3-2-1 backup strategy: keep three copies of important data on two different types of storage, with at least one copy kept somewhere separate from your main device or location. For many households, a practical setup might include the files on your computer, a regularly updated external drive and a trusted cloud backup or storage service.

Keep an external backup drive disconnected when you are not using it. If it remains attached to an infected computer, ransomware may be able to reach files on that drive too. Cloud services can add another layer between your files and your computer. Before relying on one, check what it covers, how much storage is included and how file restoration works. Also remember that cloud storage and cloud backup are not always the same thing. A storage service may sync changes across devices, while a backup service may provide separate copies or previous versions that can help with recovery.

Automatic backups are helpful because you do not have to remember to run them every week. But an automatic backup does you little good if you cannot restore anything from it. Choose a few files occasionally and confirm that they appear in your backup location. Then try restoring a copy to a different folder. This can uncover problems with permissions, file selection or an expired account before you are dealing with an emergency. Protect backup and cloud-storage accounts with strong, unique passwords and multifactor authentication. Multifactor authentication requires another form of verification beyond your password and can make it harder for someone to get into your account if your password is compromised.

Pay attention to the date of your most recent successful backup. A backup that has not run for months may be missing your newest family photos, tax records or work. Also look at whether your service keeps previous versions of files. Version history can be useful if something is accidentally deleted, overwritten or encrypted. Check your provider's retention and recovery policies so you know how far back you can restore files.

SCAMMERS KNOW THE BEST TIME TO TEXT YOU

Ransomware can start with a deceptive email, text message, website, attachment or download. A few habits can help reduce the chances of letting it onto your computer in the first place:

If files suddenly will not open, filenames or extensions have changed or a ransom message appears, act quickly. What you do next can help limit the damage and protect any clean backups you still have.

Disconnect the computer from Wi-Fi and unplug its Ethernet cable if one is connected. This can help stop ransomware from reaching shared drives, other computers or network resources. Also, disconnect external hard drives or other backup storage if you can do so safely. If you cannot disconnect the affected computer from the network, powering it down may help stop further spread. Disconnecting it first is preferable because shutting down the computer can erase information from memory that may be useful during an investigation.

Do not start deleting encrypted files or the ransom note. They may contain information that helps identify the ransomware involved. If a ransom message is displayed, take a photo of it with another device so you have a record of what appeared on the screen. Do not open additional suspicious files, install random recovery programs or follow instructions in the ransom note without first getting professional guidance.

Paying does not guarantee that you will receive a working decryption key or get your files back. The FBI does not support paying ransomware demands and recommends that victims report ransomware incidents.

If this is a personal computer, contact your security provider or a reputable computer-repair or cybersecurity professional. You can also report ransomware to the FBI through the Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov or contact your local FBI field office. If the affected computer belongs to your employer, stop using it and contact your IT or security department immediately. Do not attempt to clean or restore a work computer yourself unless your organization instructs you to do so.

Do not reconnect an external backup drive to an infected computer. The affected device should first be evaluated, cleaned or rebuilt so you do not accidentally expose a good backup to the same ransomware. Once the computer is clean, you can restore files from a backup created before the ransomware infection. If you do not have a usable backup, recovery can be much more difficult. Some ransomware variants have free decryption tools available, but there is no universal tool that can recover every encrypted file.

Strong security software can add another layer between your important files and ransomware. Look for real-time protection that continuously monitors for malware, suspicious downloads and other threats instead of relying only on occasional manual scans.

A firewall can also help monitor network activity and block suspicious connections, while tools such as password managers and scam protection can help reduce other ways attackers may try to get into your accounts or devices.

Security software can lower your risk, but no product can guarantee that every threat will be stopped. That is why it should work alongside safer online habits and a separate, tested backup that gives you another way to recover your files if ransomware gets through.

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You do not need to spend hours managing your cybersecurity. Once a month, set aside a few minutes to check the protections you already have in place.

This routine is not complicated, and it does not require you to become a cybersecurity expert. The goal is to make sure that if ransomware, a device failure or another problem hits, you already have another copy of the files you care about and know how to get them back.

Ransomware can turn years of family photos and important records into files you suddenly cannot open. For me, security software and safer online habits are only part of the protection I want in place. I also want a separate backup of anything I would be devastated to lose, and I want to know that backup actually works before I need it. Spending a few minutes each month checking updates, backups and account security can put you in a much better position if ransomware ever hits.

If ransomware locked your computer today, how confident are you that you could recover the photos and documents you care about most? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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I've been a chef for over 15 years. Here are 12 tips I learned in culinary school that at-home cooks should know.

October 1, 2026 · Business Insider

There are a few important things to know in the kitchen. For example, dull knives can be far more dangerous than sharp ones.

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I've been a chef for years and picked up some tips in culinary school that home cooks could use.
Prep ingredients ahead of time and use a damp towel to keep your cutting board in place.
Though some dishes benefit from a little cold butter, others need acid from vinegar or lemon.

I've been a chef for over 15 years, and even though professional kitchens aren't for everyone, there are several lessons and tricks I learned in culinary school that can come in handy for anyone.

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Here are some of the most helpful tips to take your at-home cooking game to the next level.

Use a damp napkin or towel to keep your cutting board in place.

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If you're tired of your cutting board moving around while you use it, place a damp paper or dish towel underneath it.

Whether your board is wood or plastic, this trick will help keep it in place and create a more stable work surface.

Keep your knives sharp.Dull knives are more dangerous than sharp ones.

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A sharp knife is a safe and effective tool, but dull ones can slip off food and cause all sorts of unintended injuries.

You can buy tools to sharpen your knives at home if you don't want to visit a professional. Just do a bit of research to see what type of sharpener works best for your particular knife.

Prep as much as you can in advance.

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The more you prep, the more you can sit back and relax when it's time to actually cook. Chop up your ingredients, measure out your spices, and set yourself up for success and save time later.

For example, most restaurants strain scrambled eggs the day before, then pour out individual portions to cook.

You can do something similar if you're having people over for brunch — crack your eggs in a container with a tight-fitting lid, mix them up, and keep them in a very cold fridge until you're ready to cook them.

Plus, ingredients like scallions and greens can be washed, sliced, and wrapped in paper towels or kept in an ice bath until ready to use.

Don't wait to bring your pasta water to a boil.Multitask while the water boils.

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When making pasta, get that large pot of water salted, filled up, and on the stove first thing. A lot of prepping can be done while the water boils.

Salt each component of your dish.

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Make sure to salt each individual component of your dish, not just the finished product. If the parts taste great, the whole will too.

Use water to easily thin sauces or soups.

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Most restaurants actually thin dishes with water. If they can do it, so can you.

If your sauce is too dry or soup is too thick, you don't need to run to the store for more stock or broth — simply turn on the tap.

Just make sure to add a little bit at a time, since you can always pour in more, but you can't take it away.

Be mindful about which oils and fats you choose to cook with.

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If a recipe is telling you to use a specific oil or butter, you may want to listen. Not all fats are created equal.

Butter and olive oil burn at high temperatures, so use avocado or grapeseed oil for sautéing.

If you want to use butter, you can clarify it — or remove the milk solids by melting and pouring off the liquid — to keep the flavor high and the risk of burning low.

When making something like risotto, add cold butter at the end.

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Butter is the secret to a rich risotto as the ingredient tones down acidity, adds creaminess, and generally makes things taste really good.

Following the beurre monté technique, add a pat of cold butter to a saucepan with a bit of simmering water and swish it around until the mixture is thick and emulsified.

Then, to make the most of the fat, add it to your risotto at the end. This can upgrade things like veggies or pasta, too.

Many meals can be elevated with a touch of acidity.

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If your sauce is boring or a bit flat, acid may be just the thing to fix it.

Whether it's lemon juice or vinegar, just a splash of acid can make all the difference in brightening a dish.

Don't overmix your batters.

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For the fluffiest pancakes and the lightest desserts, mix all your ingredients only until they're just combined (unless a recipe states otherwise).

Don't worry about leftover lumps. They'll generally absorb and hydrate into the batter as it cooks, making those light-as-air baked goods a reality.

You probably don't want to cook everything on the same rack in your oven.

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You shouldn't cook everything in your oven the same way or at the same height.

Roast veggies at high heat on the bottom rack for maximum browning, and finish dishes up top under the broiler for a crispy, melted look.

For baking, you should cook most things in the middle so the heat is evenly distributed from top to bottom.

Let meat and fish rest at room temperature before cooking.

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Pull meat and fish out of the fridge about 30 minutes before cooking to temper them, which can help them cook more evenly.

Also, rest your meat on a paper towel to absorb surface moisture and help achieve an evenly browned finished product.

This story was originally published on April 23, 2022, and most recently updated on September 29, 2026.

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High school girls tennis: 4A state tournament brackets revealed by UHSAA

October 1, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

Girls 5A tennis championships at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

First singles

First round (Oct. 8)

At Brighton High School

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No. 16 Savannah Jett, Mountain View vs. No. 17 Lila Bingham, Mountain Crest
No. 9 Sophie Anderson, Green Canyon vs. No. 24 Mason Hillstrom, Pine View
No. 12 Ashley Wallis, Sky View vs. No. 21 Pearle Lindquist, Dixie
No. 13 Brixen Henderson, Ridgeline vs. No. 20 Solayna Shakespeare, Cedar City
No. 14 Mckinley Labrum, Snow Canyon vs. No. 19 Savana Corbridge, Bear River
No. 11 Nelliebly Chytraus, Crimson Cliffs vs. No. 22 Liza Jorgensen, Murray
No. 10 Georgia Lind, Deer Creek vs. No. 23 Juliana Sagers, Uintah
No. 15 Chloe Petersen, Provo vs. No. 18 Skylar Olsen, Wasatch

Round of 16 (Oct. 9)

At Liberty Park

No. 1 Sydney Eraso, Orem vs. No. 16/17 winner
No. 8 Millie Creamer, Highland vs. No. 9/24 winner
No. 5 Claire Smith, Park City vs. No. 12/21 winner
No. 4 Jane Belcher, East vs. No. 13/20 winner
No. 3 Mara Johncock, Judge Memorial vs. No. 14/19 winner
No. 6 Piper Nordstrand, Juan Diego vs. No. 11/22 winner
No. 7 Lucy Nuttall, Timpanogos vs. No. 10/23 winner
No. 2 Lu Lu Shiozawa, Desert Hills vs. No. 15/18 winner

Second singles

First round (Oct. 8)

At Brighton High School

No. 16 Elle Smith, Wasatch vs. No. 17 Madison Phillips, Bear River
No. 9 Evelyn Wilkinson, Green Canyon vs. No. 24 Halle Griffith, Stansbury
No. 12 Poppy Rae, Park City vs. No. 21 Ashlyn Widdison, Hurricane
No. 13 Gracie Adams, Orem vs. No. 20 Katelyn Shepard, Tooele
No. 14 Kaila Reynolds, Uintah vs. No. 19 Sofia Iqbal, Judge Memorial
No. 11 Greta Lattin, Sky View vs. No. 22 Jacie Jennings, Dixie
No. 10 Tessa Parkinson, Timpanogos vs. No. 23 Kloey Cottle, Murray
No. 15 Ella Abrams, Provo vs. No. 18 Kaysley Oswald, Mountain Crest

Round of 16 (Oct. 9)

At Liberty Park

No. 1 Stella Shiozawa, Desert Hills vs. No. 16/17 winner
No. 8 Delaney Jenkins, Deer Creek vs. No. 9/24 winner
No. 5 Emory Koch, Snow Canyon vs. No. 12/21 winner
No. 4 Lizzie Hayes, East vs. No. 13/20 winner
No. 3 Caroline Gardner, Highland vs. No. 14/19 winner
No. 6 Rachel Hafen, Crimson Cliffs vs. No. 11/22 winner
No. 7 Lindsey Holyoak, Mountain View vs. No. 10/23 winner
No. 2 Taylor Southam, Ridgeline vs. No. 15/18 winner

Third singles

First round (Oct. 8)

At Brighton High School

No. 16 Aanshi Patel, Provo vs. No. 17 Belle Hendershot, Dixie
No. 9 Nora Merkley, Crimson Cliffs vs. No. 24 Savannah Mcnett, Cedar City
No. 12 Jade Welch, Hurricane vs. No. 21 Violet Fautin, East
No. 13 Grace Hadfield, Mountain Crest vs. No. 20 Paige Jones, Bear River
No. 14 Campbell Thomas, Park City vs. No. 19 Lucie Plaizier, Tooele
No. 11 Ella Cannon, Wasatch vs. No. 22 Marianne Borsato, Juan Diego
No. 10 Jane Russell, Orem vs. No. 23 Olivia Taylor, Snow Canyon
No. 15 Ashlyn Allen, Murray vs. No. 18 Quynh Nguyen, Judge Memorial

Round of 16 (Oct. 9)

At Liberty Park

No. 1 Grace Fotheringham, Highland vs. No. 16/17 winner
No. 8 Amanda Peterson, Timpanogos vs. No. 9/24 winner
No. 5 Carly Huish, Green Canyon vs. No. 12/21 winner
No. 4 Siena Miller, Deer Creek vs. No. 13/20 winner
No. 3 Andie White, Desert Hills vs. No. 14/19 winner
No. 6 Erica Wang, Ridgeline vs. No. 11/22 winner
No. 7 Daivie Eldredge, Sky View vs. No. 10/23 winner
No. 2 Eva Roberts, Mountain View vs. No. 15/18 winner

First doubles

First round (Oct. 8)

At Brighton High School

No. 16 Samantha Bender/Avaree Haramoto, Sky View vs. No. 17 Hadley Hardman/Kaylee Koch, Pine View
No. 9 Milly Waltman/Audrey Tingey, East vs. No. 24 Tayler Pilcher/Kimber Spencer, Deseret Peak
No. 12 Madeline Hadar/Zoe Centurier-Harris, Park City vs. No. 21 Lily McConkie/Ivy Patten, Dixie
No. 13 Claire Chambers/Emma Potter, Provo vs. No. 20 Sydney Linschoten/Catie Bindrup, Mountain Crest
No. 14 Clara Pulsipher/V. Odell, Mountain View vs. No. 19 Taylee Smith/Allie Archibald, Wasatch
No. 11 Caroline Chachas/Olivia Lee, Judge Memorial vs. No. 22 Ryleigh Rhodes/Lucy Duncan, Bear River
No. 10 Claire Archibald/Chloe Brown, Orem vs. No. 23 Madison Ramirez/Olivia Gilberg, Hurricane
No. 15 Isabelle Hawkes/Ava Haslem, Uintah vs. No. 18 Lexie Tripp/Ruby Dorius, Cedar

Round of 16 (Oct. 9)

At Liberty Park

No. 1 Ruby Warner/Norah Washburn, Green Canyon vs. No. 16/17 winner
No. 8 Avery Losee/Alli Beckstrom, Snow Canyon vs. No. 9/24 winner
No. 5 Cambry Wilkins/Annika Almaraz, Desert Hills vs. No. 12/21 winner
No. 4 Elizabeth Adams/Zoey Wilson, Timpanogos vs. No. 13/20 winner
No. 3 Silvie Ellis/Lindy Ellis, Ridgeline vs. No. 14/19 winner
No. 6 Chloe Miguel/Sarah Hafen, Crimson Cliffs vs. No. 11/22 winner
No. 7 Nora Stevens/Tava Watkins, Highland vs. No. 10/23 winner
No. 2 Brinley Studdert/Chandler Davies, Deer Creek vs. No. 15/18 winner

Second doubles

First round (Oct. 8)

At Brighton High School

No. 16 Sophie Lane/Autumn Tewart, Park City vs. No. 17 Lily Morden/Peytyn North, Wasatch
No. 9 Parlee Stout/Ellie Ashton, Snow Canyon vs. No. 24 Brynley Young/Maddi Williams, Uintah
No. 12 Gwen Archibald/Elizabeth Kuechmann, Provo vs. No. 21 Bridget Deaton/Hannah Goodliffe, Bear River
No. 13 Amaya Smith/Lucie Pearson, Mountain View vs. No. 20 Allison Kroff/Lauren Vinton, Dixie
No. 14 Addelynn Morton/Avery Ashcroft, Sky View vs. No. 19 Audrey Wardle/Lucy Dearden, Deseret Peak
No. 11 Shelby Ross/Claire Gardner, Timpanogos vs. No. 22 Abigail Woodbury/Alina Mizer, Pine View
No. 10 Maggie Nessen/Haven Westwood, Cedar City vs. No. 23 Brynley Wilson/Avery Spencer, Stansbury
No. 15 Graycee Glazier/Mckinley Slack, Hurricane vs. No. 18 Audrey Nielsen/Remy Stewart, Mountain Crest

Round of 16 (Oct. 9)

At Liberty Park

No. 1 Megan Carlson/Aubrie Pope, Orem vs. No. 16/17 winner
No. 8 Katie Lowe/Madeline Rigby, East vs. No. 9/24 winner
No. 5 Amy Mangold/Sadie Vest, Desert Hills vs. No. 12/21 winner
No. 4 Amelia Wilkinson/Ellie Jones, Green Canyon vs. No. 13/20 winner
No. 3 Bentley Bowles/Karina Wright, Crimson Cliffs vs. No. 14/19 winner
No. 6 Maylee Gines/Summer Spaulding, Ridgeline vs. No. 11/22 winner
No. 7 Emma Dalton/Stella DiGregorio, Highland vs. No. 10/23 winner
No. 2 Elliot Rock/Penny Randall, Deer Creek vs. No. 15/18 winner

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