Protect your files from ransomware attacks by enabling Windows Defender’s built-in protection module and prioritizing which folders to secure.
The data on your computer is invaluable to some. Whether it’s work files, photos or videos, these elements are all leverage that a hacker can use to get you to checkout.
By infecting your machine with ransomware, also known as ransomware, evil spirits take your most important data hostage by encrypting it. Without the encryption key, your files remain inaccessible indefinitely.
To give you a chance to get your documents back, hackers sometimes even add to their threat, a countdown which, once passed, orders the outright destruction of your files. When work that has taken years of work, or decades of photos of loved ones are put into play, it is not surprising to see the victims of this ransomware go to the cashier to pay the ransom in order to unblock the situation.
Most antivirus software, however, has incorporated protection systems for some time, which are more or less effective against these types of threats. Windows Defender, the virus protection system built into Windows, is no exception. However, its ransomware protection system is not enabled by default in Windows 10. Here’s how to fix it.
1. Access Windows security options
Click the Start menu, then in the search box type Defender and open the Windows Security app.
2. Enter the protection module
In the left column, go to the section on Protection against viruses and threats.
Scroll through all the options, then at the bottom of the window, under the Ransomware Protection section, click Manage Ransomware Protection.
3. Activate ransomware protection
In the new window that appears, activate the Controlled Folder Access Device.
Windows will prevent unauthorized modification of data in these directories by malicious applications.
4. Add other directories manually
By default, Windows takes care of itself protecting all the directories it considers important, which in principle includes the folders containing your Documents, Photos, Music, Videos, etc.
However, you can customize the list of protected folders by manually adding the directories to be secured.
To do this, click on the Protected Folders menu to display the list of protected directories.
Then click Add Protected Folder to manually add an additional directory under the protection of Windows Defender Anti-Ransomware Module.
To limit the risks regarding the loss or destruction of your most important data, it is however advisable to multiply the backup media.
Create copies of your most important data on USB sticks or external hard drives, and invest in online storage, usually more secure. They will allow you to have always up-to-date backups by automatically synchronizing your data.