Data recovery FAQ: answers to your questions
Find answers from our specialists to the most frequently asked questions about data recovery: hard drive failures, SSD, RAID, USB drives, pricing, turnaround times and process. SOS Data Recovery (Tesweb SA), Swiss specialist since 2006 with over 10,000 cases handled, answers your questions.
Why consult our data recovery FAQ?
Our technicians answer the most frequently asked questions about hard drive, SSD, RAID, NAS, USB drive and memory card failures. Each answer is based on over 10,000 cases handled since 2006 and regularly updated. If you cannot find the answer to your question, contact us — free diagnosis within 3 hours.
What is a ransomware attack and how does it affect data?
Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts the files on a computer system, rendering them inaccessible, and then demands a ransom in exchange for the decryption key. It is one of the most widespread cyber threats: according to the ENISA 2024 report, ransomware attacks increased by 37% in Europe between 2022 and 2023.
A typical attack process unfolds in four stages:
- Infection — via phishing, unpatched vulnerability, exposed RDP, or compromised account
- Reconnaissance and propagation — the malware maps the network and spreads laterally (duration: from a few hours to several weeks)
- Encryption — files are encrypted with an asymmetric algorithm (RSA 2048 or 4096 bits) for which only the attacker possesses the private key
- Extortion — a ransom note is dropped on the system with payment instructions (usually in Bitcoin)