I've just listened to an item on radio about "ransomware" and the effect it has on pcs attacked by this malware. I gather that it completely locks the pc and demands are made for money to unlock. I appreciate that common sense and good av and malware protection, kept up-to-date, can help avoid problems but if your pc does GET infected what can you do yourself about it? What would be the best course of action - if the SYSTEM is locked then presumably you're stymied?
There are program that you can download to a USB and use them to start up your PC. If it ever happens to your PC, you will need EXCESS to ANOTHER PC or laptop and a USB stick, preferably a 1GB one.

Of course, if you only download or access reputable sites and do not click on anything for the sake of it, you'll be fine.

Safe surfing works wonders. Thanks for comments. This was new to me - the radio report was the first I've heard of it and it does seem to be serious criminality.I have never seen or heard about any sort of ransomeware personally. I've only heard about it on the internet. I don't doubt it exists but there is no more to be worried about than there is in the case of malware infections which destroy everything. Very few of them are difficult to circumvent anyway. I have only heard of one that actually ENCRYPTS the data and tells the user to send money to a certain address to get the key. But iirc the perpetrators were found and are in prison.