Users of Google Drive can now shield their cloud-based documents from ransomware risks, providing security against cyber extortion demands.
The tech giant initiated beta trials for a ransomware monitoring tool in Google Drive back in September of the previous year. In a recent entry on the Google Workspace Updates blog, the firm disclosed the widespread deployment of ransomware detection and file recovery capabilities to its entire user base.
For individuals running the desktop edition of Google Drive on their machines, the application will instantly suspend the upload of files to the cloud upon identifying signs of ransomware activity.
Everyday account holders will receive an on-screen alert explaining the ransomware threat and outlining recommended steps to follow. On corporate devices hit by such an attack, information technology managers will get notified through email as well.
Alongside these safeguards, Google is introducing a recovery mechanism that returns files to their pre-attack condition for those impacted by ransomware.
Rather than forking over steep fees to hackers to unlock encrypted data, affected parties can now perform mass recoveries of their documents to an earlier, secure timestamp before the ransomware took hold.
This piece debuted in our associated outlet PC för Alla, with adaptations and a translation from the source Swedish material.
Kristian, an avid follower of tech innovations and video games, chiefly authors updates for our connected portals M3 and PC för Alla. He evaluates various items, with a focus on gaming hardware, and adapts content from the Foundry network.