[LOCKED!] The Latest in Anti-Ransomware - Comments Page 1

Are these anti-ransomware programs compatible with Malwarebytes and commercial anti-virus programs such as Kaspersky, Norton, and McAfee? If a good anti-virus program and malwarebytes Pro are already installed on my computer, do I have to perform any additional actions to be protected from ransomware? Thanks in advance!

EDITOR'S NOTE: To the best of my knowledge, MBAM Pro does not (yet) include the Anti-Ransomware code. I would recommend Malwarebytes’ Anti-Ransomware and CryptoPrevent, in addition to your current security software.

Just waiting for a good answer to what Dick posted.

Great article in ransom ware.

Which, or all, can be installed and used together simultaneously. ?

Or, do you just have to pick only one ?
If so, which ?

Bob

I presume that the crypto-locker programs will lock up any computer regardless of whether it is running Microsoft or Apple or something else. Are the preventative programs mentioned in the article capable of functioning on different operating systems, i.e., Apple, Linux, etc.?

I use the "system drive clone" method of backup. It has been very effective for me for years, but I have been wondering: are the crypto-locker programs looking around in the victim computers for a system clone? Should I be unplugging the backup drive and any other data drives to prevent the bad guys from seeing by backups and data drives after I do a backup.

Idownloaded CryptoPrevent free edition and so far no issues. I have CCleaner, Norton and Glary Utilities as well. All with no issues so far.

I clone my computer every night to an external hard drive. I use Acronis but also Reflect I understand is also good. By owning three external hard drives, I always have the last three days of my work available to me.

Just another reason to make frequent back ups.

Another great article. Thanks, Bob. You are the best.

Dwayne: Yes, any drive that's mounted in your system and visible to the OS via an assigned drive letter will be accessible to the crypto package. Backup drives must be invisible to the OS to be protected from ransomware. One useful technique is to use a NAS drive for backups that has the ability to schedule its wake time. Make the NAS wake only when a backup is scheduled. Obviously, this technique assumes that you're monitoring the system between backups and will prevent the NAS from waking if an infection occurs.

exactly what you recommend for me to download because I do not download anything unless you say it is safe to do so. I really enjoy reading your opinion, thank you so much all the time you spend helping others.

I have installed a program called WinAntiRansom. It has either been working or I have not been attacked. What is your opinion of this one?

Joe, thank you for your input. I am aware that the drives will be visible if they are online: I guess my question is more of "Are the crypto bad guys known to encrypt all visible drives or just the system drive, i.e. C: drive"
Thanks, Dwayne

I assume that storing your data in the cloud does not prevent it from being encrypted by ransomware.

True?

I use a timer on my external hard drive, it turn's on when a backup is due. The timer turn's off after the backup is made and the external drive goes to sleep.

For those that want more protection, also look into Microsoft's "EMET", the Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2458544. Running as a standard user and having the EMET installed stops most, if not all, of these encrypting viruses.
It also breaks many programs that don't or didn't follow Windows programming recommendations. But that's irrelevant to most of us here.

Thanks for the mention of our product CryptoPrevent!
We also wanted to point out v8 beta is now available, if you wanted to check it out, here:
https://www.foolish*t.com/cryptoprevent-beta/

I still think the silver bullet for any type of malware including ransomware is an image backup. I use Macrium Reflect Standard Edition (64) bit. I do a complete image backup once per week. I have used other image backup programs but Macrium Reflect is the only one that I have been able to do a successful restore every time. I have had to do a restore 3 times in the past 5 years. None do to malware. All 3 times were my fault for tinkering with the OS.

Already using the free version of Bit Defender so I downloaded their version. Thank you very much for your article.

https://www.winpatrol.com/winantiransom/
Highly recommend...unintrusive and makes good sense