In the past, we have come across many deadly Windows 10 ransomware like WannaCry and Petya that targeted many Windows computers worldwide. That's why Windows 10 now comes with a built-in ransomware protection tool.
In this article, we'll look at how to enable ransomware protection in Windows 10 and what other options it offers.
See also: Conti ransomware also targeted the Irish Ministry of Health!
What is Windows 10's ransomware protection feature?
In a typical ransomware attack, the victim cannot access important files until they pay the ransom to the attacker. The user ends up paying the money in cases where sensitive data is compromised. In some cases, there is no guarantee that the attacker will decrypt the machine even after receiving the ransom as they may demand more.
Ransomware attacks have even resulted in deaths, so it's not just digital data that's at risk. Microsoft has tried to address this problem by preventing malicious applications from making unauthorized changes to certain important folders on your machine.
Microsoft maintains a list of trusted applications, which can be used to verify whether the application installed on your computer is not ransomware. The feature may not be anything terrible, but at least it adds an extra layer of security.
See also: Conti ransomware gang demands $20 million from Irish HSE
How to enable ransomware protection in Windows 10?
To enable Windows 10 ransomware protection, you don't need to install any third-party or first-party app for that matter. You can do it using the built-in Windows Security antivirus app with the help of the steps below.
1. Open the Windows Security app on your computer.
2. Click Virus & threat protection in the left panel.
3. Now, you will see ransomware protection at the bottom, click Manage ransomware protection.
4. Here, enable the toggle button on Controlled folder access.
That's all you need to do. By default, Windows 10's ransomware protection only works for certain system folders like Downloads, Pictures, Documents, etc. But you can also click Protected Folders to add more. You can also click Allow an app through Controlled folder access to allow an accidentally blocked app to bypass the feature.
Corporate managed devices running Windows Server 2019 can use the ransomware protection feature with the help of Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager and InTune.
See also: New threat: Ransomware attacks with triple extortion
How to recover your data?
Another thing that is important today is backing up your files. The answer a decade ago was your hard drive, but now it's cloud storage.
Microsoft's OneDrive can be used to back up data from Windows 10, which can help recover your files after an attack. Therefore, it is recommended to keep OneDrive syncing enabled. Or you can use other cloud services like Google Drive or Dropbox.
You can also use the File History feature in Windows 10 to back up your data to an external hard drive or SSD. Make sure to disconnect the external storage after backing up your files.
This way, you can keep malicious ransomware away from your important files.
Information source: fossbytes.com
