By The KTech team · Published 9 November 2026
If files have suddenly locked, or a note has appeared on screen demanding money, you need calm and practical ransomware help Devon households and businesses can trust. The first few steps matter more than anything else: do not pay, do not wipe or reinstall anything yet, and take the affected computer off the network. KTechnology is based at Springfield Farm Shop in East Charleton, near Kingsbridge, and helps people across the South Hams and Devon when this happens.
This guide explains what to do in the first hour, why paying and wiping are the two mistakes to avoid, how recovery usually works and how to put protection in place afterwards. It is written for shop owners, office managers, trades and families who want a clear plan rather than jargon. If you are dealing with this right now, call 01548 859773 first and read the rest once things are steadier.
What should I do first if my files are locked?
Stay calm and resist the urge to click around and fix it yourself. Leave the computer switched on, unplug its network cable or switch off its WiFi so the problem cannot reach shared drives, and write down what you saw. If other people use the same network, ask them to stop opening files from shared folders until someone has checked them.
- Photograph any note or message on screen rather than retyping it.
- Write down when you first noticed the problem and which files or systems look affected.
- Check whether a backup drive or cloud copy is also showing the problem, and do not connect any new drives to the affected machine.
- Call 01548 859773 so we can talk through containment before anything is changed.
Should I pay the ransom?
Please speak to us and the police before you make any decision. Paying does not guarantee your files will come back, and it can mark your business out as someone who will pay again. Wiping or reinstalling a machine can also destroy the evidence and the only route to recovery. You can report the incident to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040.
If your business holds personal data, you may need to report a breach to the Information Commissioner's Office within 72 hours of becoming aware of it. Its guidance is at ico.org.uk. Our ransomware help page sets out the same first steps in a shorter form.
Can locked files be recovered without paying?
Sometimes they can. Recovery depends on what was affected, whether clean backups exist and whether those backups were kept separate from the computer that was hit. We assess it honestly and will not promise that files can be decrypted, because that depends on the incident itself. Where clean copies exist, we work to restore them and get the business trading again as safely and quickly as we can.
If you are not sure how your backups are set up, say so when you call. Our data recovery and backup service covers getting files back and setting up a second copy that stays safe.
How can a Devon business reduce the risk of ransomware next time?
Once things are back to normal, the aim is to make sure one bad click or one infected machine cannot stop the whole business. Practical steps include keeping at least one backup copy separate from your everyday network, checking that backups can actually be restored, using multi-factor sign-in on email and key accounts, and keeping devices updated. We can help with each part and with a plan for what to do if it happens again.
Our cyber security page sets out the wider help we offer for South Hams and Devon homes and businesses.
Do you help homes as well as businesses?
Yes. We help households and small businesses across the South Hams and Devon, including shops, offices, trades and holiday-let owners. If you are not sure whether your situation is a home or a business matter, call us and we will talk it through. The quickest way to reach us outside a phone call is the contact page.