controlled folder access: The Windows have been hit twice by ransomware infections in recent months. Thousands of computers ended up with encrypted files from the malware software, since the owners failed to properly protect their data, with updates or in the end with a backup.
Microsoft had released Windows updates that were designed to prevent these infections, and most of the infected systems had not installed the latest patches.
So it was very clear that the company should develop a solution that would keep users safe, even if no updates were available.
Let's talk about Controlled folder access.
This is a new feature that Microsoft is currently testing with the help of insiders. The new feature is supposed to monitor critical folders and will alert users whenever an application tries to make unauthorized actions.
The new tool Controlled folder access is integrated into the Windows Defender Security Center in Windows 10 Fall Creators Update build preview. It is expected to be available for everyone, with the official release of the operating system in September.
End of encryption from ransomware?
With Windows folders protected by default, the new feature will be able to monitor any folder on your system, even on shared networks and map drives, ensuring that if there is a ransomware, it will not be able to make modifications to your PC.
Windows 10 users will be able to define protected folders while they can set exceptions to allow other trusted applications to make changes to protected folders.
Apps trying to make changes to unauthorized protected folders will automatically enter a blacklist that only administrators can access.
In this way, Windows 10 hopes to give their users full control over applications that can modify files.
This will prevent threats such as ransomware attempting to modify the system without users receiving a notification.
What Microsoft did not say is what can happen if a zero-day exploit allows ransomware to gain administrator privileges… ..
