Fight ransomware: Run Windows in Linux as a virtual machine

http://www.pcworld.com/article/3197628/linux/fight-ransomware-by-running-windows-in-linux-as-a-virtual-machine.html

Running Windows as a virtual machine in Linux may seems like unnecessary work until something like the Wannacry ransomware scare comes along. 
Despite its headaches, desktop Linux rarely is the target of malware. (When it is, it can generally present a smaller attack surface.)  And if you need to run applications in Windows, run the OS in a virtual machine.

From a security standpoint, too, running Windows in a virtual machine can be much safer than running Windows on its own.

The virtual storage stuff allows that the entire Windows application–files, applications, the works–are contained in one file. That file can easily be backed up. In essence, using a VM is the ultimate way to back up a Windows installation.