10 Best Ransomware Protection Software for Windows 11
In the last few years, we are increasingly witnessing a new wave of attacks on Windows computers. Widespreadransomware attacks such as WannaCry, Dharma, CryptoLocker, etc., have affected millions of PCs worldwide and hijacked the entire disk from user access. You need to pay a ransom to unlock and decrypt your PC in such instances, otherwise, you lose access to all your valuable files. So to be better prepared, we have compiled a list of the 10 best ransomware protection software for Windows 11 that can help defend your PC against new emerging threats. We have included free and paid anti-ransomware programs for Windows 11 in this article. So without any wait, let’s find a suitable anti-ransomware program for your Windows 11 PC.
Best Ransomware Protection Software for Windows 11 (2022)
We have mentioned the 10 best ransomware protection software for Windows 11, suitable to both home users and businesses. We have also added a few free anti-ransomware programs for Windows 11 and some decryption tools. You can expand the table below and read about the software that interests you.
1. Malwarebytes
If you are looking for reliable anti-ransomware software for Windows 11, my first recommendation will be Malwarebytes. It’s an all-around antivirus program that cancatch ransomware, exploits, malware, zero-day attacks, and more. Malwarebytes is updated frequently with new information on cyber threats, virus definitions, and new vectors spreading the ransomware. It brings you unmatched ransomware detection and prevention technology, so your PC is not locked away from your control.
Malwarebytes also usesAnomaly Detection Machine Learningto identify suspicious executables that can get hold of your Windows 11 PC. The best part is that it’s pretty lightweight, so it will not be a burden on your system’s resources. Moreover, while Malwarebytes lets you try all the premium features for 14 days without any fee, I would suggest subscribing to its yearly or monthly premium plan to get real-time protection against all kinds of ransomware.
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Pricing: Free premium trial for 14 days, Paid plan starts at $3.33/monthDownloadMalwarebytes
2. Bitdefender Total Security
If Malwarebytes does not cut it for you, I highly recommend Bitdefender for its all-in-one protection features. Yes, Bitdefender is heavy on system resources in comparison to other programs on this list, but it alsobrings maximum protectionagainst all kinds of ransomware, malware, phishing attacks, and more.
Similar to Malwarebytes, Bitdefender deploys smart machine learning algorithms to detect malicious actors on your PC and prevent them from taking hostage of your valuable personal files. Themachine learning technique continuously monitors various processesand executables. It does a behavioral analysis in the background to quickly detect and prevent even zero-day attacks from malicious actors. If you need a feature-packed antivirus that also brings ransomware protection, Bitdefender is a good choice.
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Pricing: Free trial for 30 days, Paid plan starts at $39.98 per year for 5 devicesDownloadBitdefender Total Security
3. Emsisoft
Emsisoft is another great ransomware protection software for Windows 11. I would strongly recommend it to both personal and business users. Emsisoft’s ransomware detection technology is the best in the industry that does not slow down your device, and at the same time, prevents and recovers your PC from hard lock-in. Emsisoft is inpartnership with ID Ransomwareto identify ransomware through signature-based detection.
Emsisoft is generallythe first to detect new and emerging threatsbecause of its intelligence-gathering network and protects all its endpoints before the ransomware reaches your device. It also stops attack chains deployed by most ransomware and does behavior-based detection as well. Not to mention, Emsisoft alsooffers you a free servicewhere you can decrypt your ransomware-hit PC. In tandem, Emsisoft is one of the best anti-ransomware software for Windows 11, and you can surely get behind it for all-around protection.
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Pricing: Freetrial for 30 days, Paid plan starts at $29.99 per year for 1 PCDownloadEmsisoft
4. Kaspersky Anti-Ransomware Tool
Users looking for afree anti-ransomware softwarefor Windows 11 can turn to the Kaspersky anti-ransomware tool. It’s an executable file and has a footprint of just 90MB. You don’t get all of the advanced ransomware protection features as you might expect, but Kaspersky claims thatfree users will get essential ransomware protectionthat will protect their PC against existing and popular ransomware. In case you opt for the paid plan, you get a full suite of protection, including advanced ransomware detection and prevention technology.
The free tool can block malicious executables from encrypting your disks, either locally or remotely done. In addition, the free tool can alsoblock crypto-mining software, exploits, and numerous other kinds of threats. To sum it up, the Kaspersky anti-ransomware tool is an excellent utility available for free, and you should definitely take a look.
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Pricing: FreeDownloadKaspersky Anti-Ransomware Tool
5. ZoneAlarm Anti-ransomware
ZoneAlarm’s anti-ransomware tool is rated as one of the best ransomware protection programs for Windows 11. Similar to Malwarebytes, it’s light on resources and good at detecting ransomware and preventing them from taking hold of your Windows 11 PC. ZoneAlarm’s anti-ransomware softwaremostly focuses on analyzing suspicious activitieson your PC and blocking any malicious ransomware from encrypting your drives.
It also protects you againstphishing sites and emails, but you need to add its extension to your browser. Overall, in my brief usage, I found that ZoneAlarm’s anti-ransomware software is good, mostly because it’s compatible with the nativeWindows Defender protection (which you can disable easily)on Windows 11. To conclude, if you are looking for a lightweight anti-ransomware program, you can take a look at ZoneAlarm’s anti-ransomware tool.
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Pricing: Freetrial for 7 days, Paid plan starts at $25.95 per year for 1 PCDownloadZoneAlarm Anti-ransomware
6. Webroot
If you are looking for an advanced anti-ransomware tool built to protect your Windows 11 PC from ransomware attacks like WannaCry, you must check out Webroot. It is one of the best ransomware protection software for Windows 11 for home and business users. Itextensively protects your PC from cyber threats, phishing attacks, and prevents any kind of remote injection, so that your computer is not held hostage by hackers.
The program also lets you safely restore your encrypted hard drive and blocks any attempt to lock you out of your PC. While Webroot offers a 14-day free trial, I recommend going for the paid plan if you want all-around protection from ransomware. The paid plan is well worth the price for the kind of iron-clad security you get with Webroot.
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Pricing: Freetrial for 14 days, Paid plan starts at $29.99 per year for 1 PCDownloadWebroot
7. Avast Ransomware Decryption Tool
If you have already been hit by a ransomware attack, and you want to decrypt your files, I suggest downloading the Avast Ransomware Decryption Tool. It is one of the best software that can help get access back to your Windows 11 computer. It has ready-made decryption tools for major ransomware attacks, including AES_NI, Crypt888, Apocalypse, HiddenTear, and more. Over time, Avast adds decryption tools for new and emerging ransomware threats on its website.
You need to identify the ransomware attack first, and you candownload a specific decryption toolfrom its website. This way, you can decrypt your hard drive and restore the PC to a functional state without paying a ransom. But do note that it is not ransomware protection software but a ransomware decryption tool for Windows 11.
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Pricing: FreeDownloadAvast Ransomware Decryption Tool
8. Acronis Ransomware Protection
Acronis, the popular company known for making backup and recovery software, has released a ransomware protection software to guard your Windows 11 PC against sophisticated ransomware attacks. Unlike free software on this list, it is a paid offering butprovides high-intelligence securityto your PC. It has a network of industry groups, independent laboratories, and cybersecurity analysts to quickly detect emerging ransomware threats hitting across the world.
It’s also one of the few companies out here to contribute its machine learning engine to VirusTotal to detect online threats. While Acronis Ransomware Protection is mostly used by businesses, I believe even home users can benefit from its protection. Recently, Acronis brought solutions to cryptojacking that is affecting users worldwide. So yeah, if you want top-tier protection against ransomware, you should take a look at Acronis’ offering.
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Pricing: Paid plan starts at $49.99 per year for 1 PCfor personal users, $59 per year for 1 PC for business usersDownloadAcronis Ransomware Protection
9. Sophos Intercept X
If you run a business (be it small or large), I highly recommend using Sophos Intercept X to protect all your endpoints against ransomware attacks. It has been named the best endpoint security provider for the last few years andcontinues to detect threats more than other providersin the industry. This Windows 11 software offers ransomware file protection, automatic file recovery, and behavioral analysis to prevent malicious actors from taking your PC hostage.
Just like other advanced programs, Sophos Intercept X leveragesAI and Deep Learningto detect both known and unknown threats without depending on signature-based detection. The best part is that it has an elite team for threat response that can neutralize even the most notorious ransomware vectors out there. To sum up, organizations with multiple endpoints should consider Sophos Intercept X for protecting your whole network of devices.
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Pricing: Offers freetrial, pricing on requestDownloadSophos Intercept X
10. Trend Micro AntiVirus+ Security
Trend Micro is our final entry on this list of ransomware protection tools for Windows 11. It’s one of the popular security providers in the business industry, in line with Acronis, Sophos, Emsisoft, etc. Apart from its business offering, it also provides anall-in-one antivirusfor home users. The antivirus is capable of blocking and defending your PC against ransomware, malware, viruses, and more.
Trend Micro has brought itsintelligent threat detection engineto home users to protect your PC against new and emerging threats. It can also decrypt and restore your PC from ransomware attacks without damaging any of your valuable files. Much like other programs, the Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security does both signature and AI-based detection of ransomware on PC.
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Pricing: Paid plan starts at $19.95 per year for 1 PCDownloadTrend Micro Antivirus+ Security
Pick the Best Anti-Ransomware Tool for Windows 11
So this is our handpicked list of the best anti-ransomware tools for Windows 11. If you frequently connect to remote computers or want to protect your valuable files from getting hijacked by ransomware attacks, having a dedicated anti-ransomware tool is a must. I am sure you will find suitable software for your needs from the list above. Anyway, that is all from us. In case you are looking for thebest antivirus for Windows 10, you can check out our linked guide. And if you have any questions, let us know in the comments section below.
Arjun Sha
Passionate about Windows, ChromeOS, Android, security and privacy issues. Have a penchant to solve everyday computing problems.
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