Get Smart. Get Protected
As discussed in Part I of this blog, this is the year of “Online Extortion”, as predicted by Trend Micro threat researchers. I’ve outlined how you get infected by ransomware, how to guard yourself against ransomware infections and the layers of protection within Trend Micro Security work together to help you to keep safe from ransomware attacks.
Now I’ll explain some more specifics of how Trend Micro Security helps you stay protected against ransomware.
Trend Micro Security on Windows or Mac
In Part I, we learned Trend Micro has already blocked 120 million ransomware threats in 2016 alone, using Trend Micro™ Smart Protection Network™ technology. Trend Micro™ Security for Windows® provides the broadest protection for users, across all four layers outlined in Part 1 (hyperlink). Industry experts recently recognized Trend Micro Security as blocking 100 percent of ransomware threats[i] and 100 percent effective protection against web threats as well,[ii] ensuring customers can effectively protect their valuable personal data with Trend Micro. Its web threat protection stops you from being exposed to ransomware-infected websites in search results via colorized and mouse-over ratings in your browsers (i.e., Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Chrome); or from potential ransomware links posted in social networks; or in web or client email, where phishing typically occurs. With its real-time scan in memory, it stops those drive-by or manual downloads—infections by screen-locker or crypto-ransomware—during the download, before it installs. If a piece of unknown ransomware gets by these layers, its behavior monitoring stops its execution mid-stream, while its remediation function immediately backs up any encrypted files, helps you to delete the offending program, and restores your files. It then cleans your computer from ransomware remnants on reboot, if required, as part of the automatic remediation process.
To this set of protections, Trend Micro Security for 2017 adds a Folder Shield function that directly protects your files in the folder(s) you choose by blocking unwanted access by untrusted programs, such as ransomware or other malware. Go here to view three videos to learn how Folder Shield works:
Finally, Trend Micro™ Antivirus for Mac® works like it does on the PC, at the exposure and infection layers, to block potential ransomware from landing on your Mac, using web threat protection and real-time memory scan; while detecting known ransomware through file scans if it lands on your disk.
Trend Micro Mobile Security on Android or iOS
As you learned in Part I, Android™ mobile ransomware grew 15 times higher by June of 2016 than they were in April 2015. Trend Micro™ Mobile Security for 2017 on Android or iOS adds to your overall security posture by protecting you from being exposed to ransomware when using Mobile Security’s SafeSurfing browser for Android or iOS; Chrome or the default browser on Android; or Safari on iOS, (via a widget for testing URLs for safety). It also blocks you from bad links when using LINE or WhatsApp instant messaging programs on Android. Note:the App Lock feature in Parental Controls on Android can also stop your kids from using any program that can open them up to ransomware infections.
At the infection layer, Mobile Security on Android and iOS both use a real-time scan in memory to help stop known drive-by or manually-downloaded screen-locker or crypto-ransomwares during the download, before they install. Mobile Security for Android enhances this for Android apps downloaded from Google Play via a pre-installation scan, which employs the Trend Micro™ Mobile App Reputation Service™ and our Virtual Private Network to scan apps for malware, including ransomware, before they even touch your device. On Android, Mobile Security adds to this infection-layer protection via a Security Scan, which can detect known malware and ransomware on your device before they can execute and do their damage, while helping you delete bad apps or files at the touch of a button.
Get Smart. And Get Protected.
Ransomware is a moving target, as new ransomware is developed daily, enabled by exploit kits, and even fostered by Ransomware-as-a-service (RAAS) cybercriminals who distribute their ransomware to other criminals, while taking a cut of the illicit profits. Users can arm themselves against ransomware by taking the proactive steps outlined here to stop themselves from getting infected in the first place. They can then ask for a little help from their friends, by installing Trend Micro Security on their PC or Mac, or Trend Micro Mobile Security on their Android or iOS mobile device.
In addition, users can also take advantage of Trend Micro’s free ransomware removal tools, such as the Trend Micro Lock Screen Ransomware Tool, which is designed to detect and remove screen-locker ransomware; as well as Trend Micro Crypto-Ransomware File Decryptor Tool, which can decrypt certain variants of crypto-ransomware, without you having to pay the ransom or use of decryption key.
In the meantime, Trend Micro is working diligently to deepen its anti-ransomware capabilities across all four protection layers as needed, on all key platforms in use today. Get smart—and get protected, so you can honestly say, now and in the future, “I’ve never been a victim of ransomware.”
Related Video Links:
Trend Micro Security: Protection Against Ransomware
Protect Yourself from Phishing with Trend Micro Security for PCs, Macs, and Mobile Devices