[header] How to protect your computer from ransomware [title] Invest in a removable drive. [step] When used strategically, an external hard drive is among the most effective backup tools at your disposal. Only plug it into your machine when you back up files, and go offline during backups. 
[substeps] If you keep your external drive connected to the computer while it's online, it could become hijacked along with your computer during a ransomware attack. [title] Store your files with a secure cloud-storage service.