File protection: deletions and ransomware

From version 1.2.0 the app protects the archive from mistakes and from viruses that damage files: before deleting many files, or a folder shared with colleagues, it asks you first; if many files change all at once, it pauses uploading. The app updates itself, see App updates.

If you delete many files at once

When you delete files from the ArchiviOnline folder on your computer, the app usually deletes them from the archive too. The files go to the archive’s trash, where you can recover them.

If you delete more than 10 files in a short time, the app stops and asks you first. A folder counts as all the files inside it. Moving files or folders out of the ArchiviOnline folder counts as deleting them, in the same way. You see this window:

You moved out of the folder or deleted N files from the ArchiviOnline folder. Do you also want to delete them from the archive and from your other computers?

You see the names of the first files and you can choose:

• Delete everywhere: the files are deleted from the archive and from your other computers too. They are still kept in the archive’s trash.
• Restore on this computer: the files come back on your computer, in the same place. Nothing changes in the archive.
• Decide later: nothing happens for now. Everything else keeps syncing. The app’s panel shows “N deletions waiting for confirmation”: click it to open the window again.

The app never deletes files from the archive on its own, however long you wait. The request stays even if you close the app or turn off your computer.

Changing the number of files. In Settings > Sync you find “Ask for confirmation when I delete more than 10 files”. You can choose a number from 5 to 500.

Personal accounts only: the window has a “Don’t ask again” box. If you tick it, the app stops asking. You can turn the confirmation back on at any time in Settings. For business and public administration accounts, confirmation is always on.

If you delete a folder you shared with colleagues

If you delete a folder you shared with other people, or move it out of the ArchiviOnline folder, the app always asks you first, even if it only has a few files in it. The same happens if you delete a folder that contains a shared one. The window says:

The folder “<name>” is shared with colleagues: if you delete it, it disappears for them too.

If more than one shared folder is involved, it says “N folders shared with colleagues…” and lists them below.

The buttons are the same: Delete everywhere, Restore on this computer, Decide later. In this case there is no “Don’t ask again” box, not even for personal accounts: the confirmation for shared folders can’t be turned off. Even if you turned off the confirmation for many files, the app still asks for shared folders.

Folders in “Shared with me” are not affected by these features: they are read-only and nothing is deleted from the archive from your computer.

If many files change at once

Some viruses (called ransomware) damage all the files on a computer at once, for example by changing their contents or adding extensions like .locked or .encrypted. To stop damaged files from reaching the archive, the app keeps an eye on what happens.

If a very large number of files (more than 50) change within a few minutes, or many files (more than 10) get an unusual extension, the app pauses uploading to the archive. Downloading continues: you still receive changes from others. You see this message:

Many files changed at the same time. To be safe, I paused uploading. If it wasn’t you, don’t continue: the previous versions are still in the archive.

You can choose:

• These were my changes, continue: the app starts uploading again.
• Keep them paused: uploading stays paused until you decide. The panel shows “Uploading paused for safety”: click it to open the window again.

If it wasn’t you, don’t continue, and ask support or your administrator for help. The archive keeps the previous versions of your files.

The app doesn’t raise an alarm for files it downloads itself from the archive: it only counts changes made on your computer.

Excluding files from sync

Some files aren’t needed in the archive: temporary files, backup copies, program folders. The app already ignores the most common system files on its own. For example: ~$* (open Office files), .~lock.*# (LibreOffice), .DS_Store and Icon (Mac), Thumbs.db, desktop.ini and $RECYCLE.BIN (Windows), *.tmp, *.part and *.crdownload files (downloads in progress), .Trash* folders.

You can add your own rules in Settings > Sync > Exclusion rules. Type the rule and press Add. Examples:

• *.bak: all files ending in .bak, in any folder;
• node_modules/: all folders called node_modules;
• Work/Drafts/: only the Drafts folder inside the Work folder, starting from the ArchiviOnline folder.

Upper and lower case don’t matter. To remove one of your rules, click the × next to it. The default rules are shown in the list but can’t be removed.

Important: adding a rule doesn’t delete anything from the archive. If a file is already in the archive, it stays there: this computer simply stops syncing it. The copy on your computer stays where it is too.