Fighting the Good Fight: Acronis Launches Free Ransomware Protection

Given the explosion of ransomware – malicious code that infects your computer and denies you access unless you pay a ransom – Acronis is doing all it can to combat it and protect the data of businesses and home users. That’s why we’re excited to launch a free version of our anti-ransomware software today.

Acronis Ransomware Protection, is a free, standalone version of our unique, artificial intelligence-based anti-ransomware technology (called Acronis Active Protection), which stops ransomware attacks in real-time and helps users to recover data without paying the ransom.

Recent ransomware attacks exposed the vulnerability of endpoint devices, showing that new strains of ransomware can easily bypass traditional anti-virus software to encrypt user data.

Acronis Ransomware Protection provides an additional level of defense that can be used together with other data protection solutions already installed on the device, such as anti-virus and backup software.

Acronis Ransomware Protection monitors system processes in real-time to automatically detect and stop the attacks other solutions can’t. In the event of a ransomware attack, it blocks the malicious process and notifies the user with a popup. If any files were damaged in the attack, it facilitates the instant recovery of those affected files.

Independent labs have repeatedly demonstrated how effective our technology is against different strains of ransomware. Providing a free version to all users is our way to make ransomware a less viable tool for cybercriminals.

Acronis Ransomware Protection also comes with 5 GB of free Acronis Cloud storage. This cloud backup capability allows users to protect important files not only from ransomware, but also from hardware failure, natural disasters and other causes of data loss.

Our recent Data Protection Survey revealed that nearly half of the U.S. population (46.4 percent) still does not know what ransomware is – making them particularly vulnerable to the threat. Acronis Ransomware Protection is essentially a “set it and forget it” protection solution that is easy to install, making it a great option for those who are new to data protection.

The lightweight program (only 20MB) requires limited system resources, quietly running in the background without affecting system performance. Acronis Ransomware Protection is also compatible with all popular anti-virus and backup solutions, enabling users to add a robust layer of protection without modifying their existing setup.

At Acronis, our primary mission is data protection, making sure that all data is protected and readily accessible. The decision to release a free, standalone version of our proven anti-ransomware defense was easy since we know it will help both individuals and businesses. We hope you’ll use and share Acronis Ransomware Protection to help shutdown this threat from cybercriminals.