Windows 10: RansomFree is the free program that protects your PC against ransomwar

Hi there

Where on earth do you guys get this Ransomware from !!!!! (and all the other Trojans , viruses, malware etc).

I only run Windows defender --nothing else and have NEVER had a Virus or problem in many years of using computers.

I have also ("mea culpa" !!!) used torrents from places like that ship still flying the Jolly Rodger - for TV / Movies / really old out of availability music including classical that will never be broadcast where I live and where it's impossible to BUY the content --I'd pay if these wretched Hollywood people would realize that it's 21 cent and people want decent DIGITAL content and will buy it instead of still sticking to old DVD's etc -- another issue entirely though.

It's 100% possible to use Internet WITHOUT getting infected -- so goodness knows what some people on this section of the board are doing on their machines. !!!!!!

WD works as good - or as bad as anything else - not sure why one would need all this high cost extra stuff unless you are protecting corporate networks -- that's another issue where you have totally different concerns to bog standard HOME computers.

Cheers
jimbo

 

Me too, but I am afraid that my PC might be attacked by ransomware one day.

 

Hi there

And if .................... it is (not sure how) - simply switch off (don't power down gradually - just switch off immediately) and restore from clean backup --problem solved.

ALWAYS HAVE BACKUPS

These days - especially if OS is on an SSD it takes FAR LESS TIME (by hours often or even DAYS) simply by restoring an OS - often as little as 15 mins - rather than mess about for hours or even DAYS with A/V cleansing programs.

Things like Macrium for backup workfine --the Free version is probably good enough for a typical home user.

Cheers
jimbo

 

I am afraid that my files might have already been encrypted before I take notice of it and press the power button.

 

If you have backup, you'll restore them. Backup should be on disconnected external drive or network without direct PC access, or ramsomware will delete it too.

 

Even an idiot like me knows that ramsomware is nothing as long as there are offline backups.

 

You answered for A+ *Thumbs

On your previous question.. It's impossible to favor single software as a defense against ramsomware at this time. There are new variant out daily and they are becoming very advance.

I was using Cryptoprevent (by Foolish.it), but have had some problems with update from version 7 to 8. They probably fixed that already.
Different users were reporting problems with almost every Anti... product out there.

Can't say about others, I'm using Bitdefender free as AV, Winpatrol as registry and startup control, something for limiting scripting in browsers and full backup. Still have Cryptoprevent ver 7 on non-Insider machine...

 

*Ditto*Thumbs

 

@jimbo45: But isnt't it better save to be sorry?

 

Hi there.
@prikker

Only if the stuff is fit for purpose --it offers NOTHING extra to what you can do yourself - and most of this stuff is usually out of date before it's even released.

Backups on cheap external HDD's are the way to do this stuff -- if it's NOT on the computer even the most sophisticated Ransomware on the planet can't get at it.

This is where CLOUD also could have vulnerabilities if you really get stung via a sophisticated piece of Ransomware -- that's why I'll ALWAYS have at least 2 sets of Backups on OFFLINE media --HDD's are cheap enough these days - imagine re-creating - even if it were possible -- several TB of Music and video files for starters !!!!.

If you do get Ransomware --simply power off IMMEDIATELY the computer - don't power down via software - just disconnect mains or if Laptop hold power off button until computer powers off. Disconnnect LAN / Wifi too -- if that's too complex simply switch router / cable box off.

Boot up your recovery / restore software from external media and restore. Macrium is good for this stuff and the FREE version is probably good enough for typical home users.

If you are 100% paranoid also format the computers internal HDD('s) before restoring. Format from a recovery disk - not from within the infected (or potentially infected) computer of course. I.e don't boot up the computer and format HDD's before restore - format from a recovery media - boot from external DVD / USB.

Easily solved and just poke the proverbial 2 fingers at the Ransomware site !!!!.

Note -- why people even bother with Cleansing A/V software to me seems just pointless - these days on decent gear an OS restore - especially if the OS is on an SSD will probably take around 0 mins (max) --A/V cleansing can take HOURS (or longer) and you can't guarantee it's 100% successful either.#

Restoring several TB of data will take longer but you can do that overnight etc. Usually the data drives won't have been touched though if you IMMEDIATELY switch off computer if you get a ransomware warning.

AGAIN - ALWAYS TAKE REGULAR BACKUPS AND KEEP OFF LINE.

You can keep backups on a LINUX type NAS - but even a NAS needs to be backed up from time to time. You always need to have at least ONE SET OFFLINE. You need to ensure though that only root user can access the backup HDD's otherwise the ransomware could hose it up --- the easy way is to ensure that those HDD'S have NO Windows access until the backup is run.

Personally when I backup my stuff to NAS from Windows I run an OS from a bootable USB stick -- the OS on the stick can access the NAS so no problems.

Cheers
jimbo

 

Luckily I never had to deal with ransomware and with Thunderbird you must allow to see the full content of an e mail first. And I never open an e mail I don't know and even the ones I do know I think twice before opening them.

 

I just uninstalled RansomFree and then installed Malwarebytes Anti-Ransomware because the former has the following disadvantage: