Avast Ransomware Shield Offers New Layer of Protection For Businesses In Light of Evolving Threats

Rhea-AI Summary

Avast has reported a 24% increase in ransomware attacks globally in Q2 2022 compared to Q1 2022, highlighting a rising threat to small businesses. In response, Avast launched a new Ransomware Shield, enhancing protection for its business security packages. This feature safeguards critical files from unauthorized access and is automatically enabled for users of the Avast Essential, Premium, and Ultimate Business Security packages. The introduction aims to bolster security amidst increasing ransomware threats, ensuring uninterrupted access to vital data.

Positive

• Launch of Ransomware Shield increases cybersecurity offerings.
• Ransomware Shield provides additional protection against evolving threats.
• Feature included in existing business security packages enhances customer value.

Negative

• 24% increase in ransomware attacks may indicate a growing threat landscape for businesses.

Avast sees global increase in ransomware attacks with 24% increase in Q2/2022 from previous quarter

Avast's Ransomware Shield offers an additional layer of protection, ensuring organizations have uninterrupted access to systems and data

PRAGUE, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Avast (LSE:AVST), a global leader in digital security and privacy, today launches a new Ransomware Shield for businesses, offering organizations an extra layer of protection against ransomware attacks. This will ensure businesses can secure their most important files and crucially, customer data, with proactive protection which prevents unauthorized access. The new feature is available now, included, as part of the Avast Essential, Premium, and Ultimate Business Security packages for businesses for both Windows and MacOS.

Despite observing a decline in ransomware attacks in Q4 2021 and Q1 2022, ransomware attacks are increasing globally once again. Avast witnessed a 24% increase in ransomware attacks in Q2 2022 in comparison to Q1 2022¹.

Filip Hlinka, VP of Product, Avast Business, says, "Small businesses are facing a growing threat from ransomware, with cybercriminals increasingly targeting smaller organizations 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. Avast's antivirus has always offered consumers and business users powerful protection against cyberthreats 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."

While Avast customers are already protected against ransomware via Avast's existing Web Shield, File Shield, and Behavior Shield, Ransomware Shield works alongside them to provide multi-layered protection, ensuring businesses have uninterrupted access to their systems and data. Ransomware Shield works by safeguarding files and folders from being modified, deleted, or encrypted by unknown applications. Users can specify which applications have permission to access their files, providing an additional layer of protection for organizations' most confidential and important data. The new feature is automatically enabled by default, and users can customize the list of protected files and folders in the policy in the Avast Business Hub.

Ransomware Shield is now available for all Avast Small Business Solutions users.

For more information contact us
E-mail: pr@avast.com

About Avast Business:
Avast Business, part of Avast (LSE:AVST, a FTSE 100 company), a global leader in cybersecurity and privacy products with over 435 million users, provides enterprise-grade endpoint and network security solutions for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) and IT service providers. Avast Business delivers powerful integrated security and privacy solutions to make it easy and affordable for businesses to protect complex and evolving network security layers. Backed by Avast's immense threat detection network, which is among the largest and most advanced in the world, Avast Business uses machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies to detect and stop threats in real time.

Further information relating to this release:

• Blog - https://blog.avast.com/business-ransomware-shield

Keep in touch with Avast Business:

• For more information about Avast visit: https://www.avast.com/en-gb/about and https://www.avast.com/company-faqs 
• Follow us on Twitter: @Avastbusiness
• For small business security insights, visit the Avast Business blog: https://blog.avast.com/topic/business-security
• Join our LinkedIn community: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/avast-for-business/

¹ Avast Q2 2022 Research Report: https://decoded.avast.io/threatresearch/avast-q2-2022-threat-report/

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SOURCE Avast Software, Inc.

FAQ

What is the Ransomware Shield launched by Avast?

The Ransomware Shield is a new security feature that provides an additional layer of protection against ransomware attacks, included in Avast's business security packages.

How much did ransomware attacks increase in Q2 2022 according to Avast?

Avast reported a 24% increase in ransomware attacks in Q2 2022 compared to Q1 2022.

Which Avast packages include the Ransomware Shield feature?

The Ransomware Shield is included in Avast's Essential, Premium, and Ultimate Business Security packages.

When was the Ransomware Shield feature launched?

The Ransomware Shield was launched on August 24, 2022.

What does Ransomware Shield do to protect businesses?

Ransomware Shield prevents unauthorized modifications, deletions, or encryption of crucial files and allows users to set permissions for application access.