How do I keep ransomware from wiping out my external backup drive? I use a DOS command to mount the backup drive. Then do the backup. Then another DOS command to dismount the drive. Is the drive safe from ransomware?

Mounting and dismounting a backup drive manually does not guarantee protection from ransomware attacks. Ransomware can still infect the backup drive while it is connected, especially if it’s actively mounted when the attack occurs. To better protect backups from ransomware, it is advisable to follow these additional approaches:

1. Use dedicated backup software: Utilize backup software with features like versioning, encryption, and ransomware detection to secure your backups.

2. Offline and offsite backups: Keep offline or offsite backups in a secure location to prevent direct access by ransomware attackers.

3. Implement a 3-2-1 backup strategy: Create at least three copies of your data, store them on two different types of media, and keep one backup copy offsite.

4. Regularly update backups: Ensure that backups are done at regular intervals and that older backups are also maintained to provide a historical recovery point.

5. Access control and encryption: Restrict access to backup drives and encrypt the backup data to enhance security measures.

6. Monitor and test backups: Regularly monitor backup processes for any anomalies and routinely test the restoration process to ensure the integrity of backups.

By combining these approaches, you can significantly improve the security and reliability of your backups against ransomware attacks.