Ransomware Protection

Select an option to specify how Ransomware Protection handles attempts to access files in your protected folders:

• Smart Mode (default and recommended setting): Ransomware Protection refers to a list of commonly used and trusted applications to determine which programs can modify files in your protected folders. If any applications which are not in this list attempt to modify files in your protected folders, you are notified and asked for permission.
• Strict Mode: you are notified and asked for permission each time an application (excluding those which you may have already added to the Blocked/Allowed apps lists) attempts to modify files in your protected folders. Selecting this option may result in frequent and potentially annoying alerts.

When a Ransomware Protection popup notification appears, click Allow App to add the program to a list of permitted applications, or click Block app to always block the application from modifying files in your protected folders.

Note: You can additionally manage your blocked and allowed applications in the Blocked/Allowed apps section.

By default, Ransomware Protection scans for and automatically secures folders where your personal data might be stored. To manually add another folder to the list, select the Protected folders tab, click Add Folder, then select a folder and click OK.

To remove a folder, hover your cursor over the relevant application's row and click the X icon.

To specify which types of files are protected in each folder, click Change protected file types. All listed file types are selected by default. Tick the box next to a file type to deselect it.

Ransomware Protection blocks malware and viruses from modifying files in your protected folders and allows trusted applications by default. When an untrusted application attempts to modify files in your protected folders, a Ransomware Protection notification appears asking whether you want to block or allow the application. After selecting your preference, the application is added to the Blocked Applications or Allowed Applications list.

To manually add an application to either list, select the Blocked/Allowed apps tab. Click Allow an App or Block an App, then select an application and click Open.

To remove an application, hover your cursor over the relevant application's row and click the X icon.

The following issues may occur:

• Ransomware Protection does not appear in the main menu: ensure you are using the latest version of AVG Internet Security. To update AVG, go to Settings ▸ Update, and click Update in the Program section. Note: this feature is not available in the free version of AVG Antivirus.
• Ransomware Protection displays popups too often: if you receive several notifications from AVG asking you to block or allow applications, ensure your Ransomware Protection sensitivity is set to Smart Mode. if you selected Strict Mode, AVG notifies you each time any application (excluding those which you may have already added to the Blocked/Allowed apps lists) attempts to modify files in your protected folders.
• You cannot save files using an application: ensure the application you are using is not in your Blocked apps list. Alternatively, you can add the application to the Allowed apps list.