New ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware Protects Home PCs Against Extortion Attacks

Check Point Software Technologies (NASDAQ:CHKP) has announced the launch of ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware, a solution that identifies, quarantines and removes evasive ransomware from user PCs.
As quoted in the press release:

ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware adds an essential layer of protection to home PCs and works alongside anti-virus software to provide PC users with complete protection against the growing threat of ransomware.

Rising ransomware risk
Newsweek recently reported that ransomware attacks rose 250% since the start of 2017, and consumers may not be aware of the threat they face. Of the recent WannaCry attack that infected more than 250,000 machines across 150 countries, more than two-thirds of these attacks affected consumers, and of those, 38% went on to pay the ransom demanded. With millions of dollars being extorted from consumers each year, the number of new ransomware weapons being developed by cyber-criminals is escalating rapidly. With less than half of the victims being able to fully recover their data, these widespread attacks have the potential to cause irreversible damage.
ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware detects and blocks ransomware attacks — including existing variants such as WannaCry and Petya, and future ransomware strains — while uniquely allowing users to easily recover any ransomware-encrypted files.
The software provides the highest level of ransomware protection by performing a thorough and ongoing analysis of operating system activities, with an emphasis on detecting specific ransomware behaviors and abnormal changes to files. It proactively secures files before a ransomware infection attempts to modify them, enabling safe recovery of all user data.
“Ransomware attacks can easily bypass traditional antivirus software to blackmail unsuspecting consumers. It’s a very real threat to home PC users, who do not have access to enterprise-grade security systems,” said Nathan Shuchami, VP of Emerging Products at Check Point Software Technologies. “These cyber attacks have cost billions of dollars in damages. With ransomware attacks becoming more widespread, it’s critical for consumers to defend themselves with a dedicated tool powerful enough to protect their PCs and precious files from being seized and held hostage by hackers.”

Click here to read the full press release.