Scenario
Recover from ransomware or accidental deletion
Accidental deletion, bad edits, sync mistakes, and ransomware all create the same backup problem: the current files are no longer the files you want. Azivault helps by keeping completed backup runs that can be browsed and restored separately.
The moment this usually goes wrong
A folder is empty, a project was overwritten, a sync tool propagated a bad delete, or files suddenly look renamed and unreadable.
The dangerous instinct is to keep working in the damaged folder. The safer move is to stop, identify the last known-good backup run, and restore into a separate location.
Restore from a run before the damage
The key decision is not just which file to restore, but which backup run is old enough to be clean. Azivault records completed runs so you can choose a point before the deletion, overwrite, or suspicious change.
- For accidental deletion, start with the most recent run before the deletion.
- For bad edits, compare one or two older versions before replacing the current file.
- For suspected ransomware, choose a run before the first suspicious rename, error, or ransom note.
Restore to a separate folder first
Do not immediately overwrite current files if you are unsure what happened. Restore to a temporary folder, inspect the result, then move back only the files you want.
This is especially important after ransomware or broad sync damage, where current filenames may still look familiar but contents may be wrong.
Separate cleanup from restore
If malware is suspected, clean or replace the Mac environment before restoring important files. A backup app should not be used as a malware-removal tool.
If the problem was a sync mistake or accidental delete, pause the sync tool until you understand which side is authoritative. Otherwise a restored file can be deleted again.
Keep an offsite encrypted copy
If the damaged Mac can still reach every local backup destination, local copies may also be at risk from user error or malicious writes.
A separate S3-compatible repository gives you another recovery path. Azivault encrypts the repository before upload, so the offsite destination does not need plaintext access to your files.
Protect the restore path
Recovery depends on more than data blobs. Keep the Azivault recovery password, storage-provider recovery, and any S3-compatible endpoint details somewhere that is not editable only from the affected Mac.
If provider credentials may have been exposed, create replacement credentials and update the backup plan after you have a clean system and a verified restore path.
Use Finder to inspect before committing
Azivault's Finder restore browsing helps when you need to look through a run before copying files back. Browse the run, restore representative files, and confirm dates and contents.
For large incidents, restore one folder at a time. That makes it easier to notice if a bad state was already present in the chosen run.
Know what Azivault is not
Azivault is not antivirus, malware cleanup, or system rollback software. Clean the Mac first when compromise is suspected, then restore selected known-good files.
For full-device rollback, pair Azivault with appropriate system-level recovery tools.
Reduce the next incident
After recovery, keep the plan boring: scheduled backups, at least one offsite destination, recovery material stored separately, and occasional restore tests.
The goal is not to predict the exact next failure. It is to make sure one bad folder state does not become the only state you can recover.
Related guides
FAQs
Can Azivault remove ransomware?
No. Azivault can help restore files from completed backup runs, but it does not clean malware or repair the operating system.
Why restore to a separate folder first?
It lets you inspect the recovered files before replacing current files that may still be useful or may need forensic review.
Can a backup restore files that were already encrypted by ransomware before the run?
No. Choose a completed run from before the damage. If the selected run already contains damaged files, move further back.