Windows Defender, a built-in security tool in Windows 10, has a ‘Protected folders’ list that is by default populated with some of the folders that may contain your sensitive data. All the folders that the ‘Protected folders’ list has keep any third-party app from making any changes to their data, thus protecting the files from Ransomware attacks.
However, there might still be some sensitive and important files stored in the folders other than those already added to the Windows Defender’s ‘Protected folders’ list. To protect those files from Ransomware, their corresponding parent folders must also be added to the ‘Protected folders’ list.
Here’s how:
Note: By default the ‘Controlled folder access’ option that enables protection from Ransomware is disabled, and must be turned on in order to secure your data. Once enabled, you can add your custom folders to the ‘Protected folders’ list to protect the files they contain from Ransomware attacks.
Click Protected folders from the Controlled folder access section, click the + icon next to the Add a protected folder, use the Select Folder box to browse and select the folder you want to protect from Ransomware attacks, click the Select Folder button, and click Yes on the User Account Control confirmation box. This adds the selected folder to the Protected folders list, thus protecting the contents of the folder from the Ransomware attacks.
Note: You can only remove the folders from the Protected folders list that you added manually. The folders added to the list by default cannot be removed.
However, there might still be some sensitive and important files stored in the folders other than those already added to the Windows Defender’s ‘Protected folders’ list. To protect those files from Ransomware, their corresponding parent folders must also be added to the ‘Protected folders’ list.
Here’s how:
Note: By default the ‘Controlled folder access’ option that enables protection from Ransomware is disabled, and must be turned on in order to secure your data. Once enabled, you can add your custom folders to the ‘Protected folders’ list to protect the files they contain from Ransomware attacks.
- ■Launch Windows Defender
Type WINDOWS DEFENDER in the Cortana search box, and click Windows Defender Security Center from the Best match list. This launches Windows Defender. The main interface of the program has options that let you monitor and manage various security related settings in your PC.
■Enable Ransomware protection
Click Virus & threat protection, click Virus & threat protection settings, turn on the Controlled folder access switch, and click Yes in the User Account Control confirmation box. This turns on Ransomware protection on your Windows 10 computer. Once enabled, all the default folders added to the Protected folders list automatically get protected from Ransomware attacks.
■Protect your preferred folder(s)
Click Protected folders from the Controlled folder access section, click the + icon next to the Add a protected folder, use the Select Folder box to browse and select the folder you want to protect from Ransomware attacks, click the Select Folder button, and click Yes on the User Account Control confirmation box. This adds the selected folder to the Protected folders list, thus protecting the contents of the folder from the Ransomware attacks.
Note: You can only remove the folders from the Protected folders list that you added manually. The folders added to the list by default cannot be removed.
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