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Resolved Question

CryptoPrevent?

Mar 8, 2015 11:37PM PDT

I've been reading about cryptolocking malware, and what can be done, if anything, after an infection. As far as preventing it in the first place, in addition to practicing safe internet practices, it doesn't seem like there's much available. I read about a program called "CryptoPrevent", available as freeware or a paid version. Does anyone have an opinion on how well this works, and if it is safe and practical for an average, self-taught Windows 8 user (me) to handle?

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MaxxyVan has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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The other thing.
Mar 9, 2015 12:23AM PDT

"We only lose what we don't backup."

Some folk won't accept this until they lose it all. Some lose again and a few lose it many times before they learn. There's that.

-> But here's a few ugly truths. Some will install a fix, shield and then melt down because it didn't work. Why didn't it work? Because the moment this shield is installed and out in the wild, the bad folk are working on how to get around it.

What saves us is that we don't install or run everything from the web we find.

If you think it's bad, you're not seeing the big picture as it's worse than that. We used to trust download sites but now they bundle malware or worse. Read http://www.howtogeek.com/198622/heres-what-happens-when-you-install-the-top-10-download.com-apps/

That's as bad as CryptoLocker for some folk. They end up at service counters or buying a new PC. Some are so put off by this they get an iPad.
Bob

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Answer
Something for you to read.
Mar 8, 2015 11:49PM PDT
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Answer
A wealth of CrytpoLocker Ransomware information ..
Mar 10, 2015 3:05AM PDT
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Thanks
Mar 12, 2015 12:23AM PDT

Thank you, folks, for responding to my question about crypto-locking malware. It's true that practicing safe computing on the internet is the best preventative, but the bad guys are getting so refined in their tactics that it's getting easier, in some cases, to be fooled. I think the analogy of security software as door locks is an apt one. It doesn't matter how good the lock is on your front door if the bad guy can fool you into opening it. In the case of crypto-lockers, R. Proffitt is right that they can't hurt you if you have your files backed up, and that's good advice for many other reasons, too.
Thanks again- MaxxyVan