Advice Request Can older version of antivirus protect PC from ransomeware?

[mavuongsoi]

Can older version of antivirus (ex. 2015 - with updated database) protect PC from ransomeware like wannacry?

 

[Kuttz]

Even current gen AVs struggle to protect from zero day ransomewares. Older AVs certainly have weaker abilities in protecting from ransomeware.

 

[Mahesh Sudula]

Backup and Restore at regular time saves you from any ransomware.
No AV is perfect in this regard

 

[Sundaram999]

Even current gen AVs struggle to protect from zero day ransomewares. Older AVs certainly have weaker abilities in protecting from ransomeware.

I agree

 

[cruelsister]

Can older version of antivirus (ex. 2015 - with updated database) protect PC from ransomeware like wannacry?

Yeah- a traditional AV will detect anything that it has definitions against. Newer AVs normally will also have a Cloud Component so the definitions may be more timely. But as has been noted above, no traditional AV will protect against a true zero day sample (which is what is being pushed out by Blackhats; the only time you will see a few days old ransomware is in Professional AV tests!).

So a traditional AV from 2015 with current definitions will be equally useless as a 2018 version of a traditional AV.

Hope this helped.

 

[bribon77]

Excuse me, but why would I use an AV from 2015. If there is a 2018 AV?

 

[vtqhtr413]

An example would be if you had a computer manufactured in 2015 and it came with a trial or free AV and you performed a factory restore.

 

[TairikuOkami]

Excuse me, but why would I use an AV from 2015. If there is a 2018 AV?

Malwarebytes 2 vs 3 for example or KAV Free. Newer is not always better for the user, either removed features or added bloatware.

 

[RoboMan]

As for definitions it will protect as well as the 2018 version (lastest version). Now the difference comes when antivirus developers include new modules like behaviour blocker or anti-ransomware or tweak their existing modules/AI to detect new zero-day threats without their definitions. In this case, a newer version will keep you more protected.

 

[gery79]

totally agree... this is the best choice possible with some special care

 

[JB007]

Excuse me, but why would I use an AV from 2015. If there is a 2018 AV?

+1

 

[yitworths]

It would be better if you specify which av & what variant of ransomware. Just saying Ransomware you are meaning wide range of things such as trojan encryptor, file encryptor,troj encryptor + botnet etc. Now if you are asking for a generic answer it would be no. If you are asking for some specific answer then I would say indeterminate.
There is certain class of miners which first check your av product then it allows itself to run.How come you even think any random av would be able to protect you against any random ransomware.

 

[Azure]

Antivirus that rely exclusively on signature-based protection? They will not protect you.

Antivirus that rely on much more powerful protection features like behavior blocking or auto-sandboxing? It could be possible. But it's better to not run the risk.