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Despite observing a decline in ransomware attacks in Q4 2021 and Q1 2022, Avast researchers report ransomware attacks are increasing globally once again.
Ransomware attacks increased 24 per cent in Q2 2022 in comparison to Q1 2022 and according to Filip Hlinka, VP of product at Avast Business, small businesses are prime targets.
"Small businesses are facing a growing threat from ransomware, with cyber criminals increasingly targeting smaller organisations to encrypt crucial business data and disrupt operations.
"The results can be devastating for small businesses that lack the financial and technical resources to rebound from such attacks," Hlinka said.
In response to the perpetual growth of ransomware attacks, Avast launched a new ransomware shield for businesses, offering organisations an extra layer of protection against ransomware attacks.
Aiming to ensure businesses can secure their most important files and customer data, Avast has designed the new feature with proactive protection which prevents unauthorised access; the new feature will include part of the Avast Essential, Premium, and Ultimate Business Security packages for businesses that will run for both Windows and MacOS.
While Avast customers are already protected against ransomware via Avast’s existing Web Shield, File Shield, and Behaviour Shield, Ransomware Shield works alongside them to provide multi-layered protection, ensuring businesses have uninterrupted access to their systems and data.
"Avast’s antivirus has always offered consumers and business users powerful protection against cyber threats including ransomware, and Ransomware Shield offers a purpose-built, additional layer of protection which helps to secure businesses’ most crucial files against these highly damaging attacks,” Hlinka added.
Ransomware Shield works by safeguarding files and folders from being modified, deleted, or encrypted by unknown applications.
Users have the capability to specify which applications have permission to access their files, providing an additional layer of protection for organisations' most confidential and important data.
The new feature is automatically enabled by default, and users can customise the list of protected files and folders in the policy in the Avast Business Hub.
[Related: Google warns of new Chrome hack attacks aimed at Windows and Android]
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