Ransomware Protection that you get for free from Microsoft!

  • June 23, 2021
  • BY admin

Protecting your important documents against Ransomware with Microsoft Defender Microsoft got a lot of heat after a barrage of Ransomware attacks to different industries, companies of any sizes and even consumers to come up with some protection against this nasty malware. As you probably know, Ransomware, as its name implies, will hold your data hostage by encrypting them and will ask for ransom in the shape of Crypto Currency to decrypt them. Microsoft recently added a new feature called, "Controlled Folder Access" to their Microsoft Defender. This feature will block unauthorized applications from making modifications to your important files and folders. This feature is now part of the Defender with no additional cost and that’s why we all should take advantage of it.

Applications on the “whitelist” can only access Protected folders. Most of your applications such as Microsoft Office, a variety of accounting and finance applications, and more will be allowed by default. Applications that are determined by Microsoft as friendly are always allowed. If an application tries to modify the content of these folders that is not part of the approved app list, the system will notify you, and you will have the option of adding them to the list if you recognize them. Otherwise, this could be an indication that an unauthorized app, possibly a virus or malware, is trying to steal or lock your data. Once turned on, “Controlled folder access” will watch over files stored inside Protected folders, and any attempt to access or modify a protected file by non-whitelisted apps will be blocked by Windows Defender, preventing most ransomware from encrypting your important files.

You can follow these steps to turn this feature on:

  1. Click on Windows’ key on your keyboard and type in “Ransomware Protection” and hit the Enter key

  2. Enable “Controlled folder access” by clicking on the button to turn it on

By default, Documents, Pictures, Videos, Music folders are protected. Click on protected folder to see the list of folders that are currently being protected.

  1. Click on + sign to “Add a protected folder”. Select the folder that contains your important files. Repeat the same for additional folders to be protected.

That is it, you are done! As you can see, by following these simple steps you can add additional protections against Ransomware attacks.