Advice Request Is there any standalone decent Anti-ransomware that works on Windows XP SP3?

[mekelek]

Running a really old and weak laptop with XP SP3, running ESET on it but since we all know, ESET is weak against Ransomware, i'm looking for a light standalone anti-ransomware that still supports XP SP3.

Please don't advise me to install Windows 7, if I could, I would, but it would eat the laptop for breakfast.

 

[Captain Awesome]

we all know, ESET is weak against Ransomware

No.If you follow this you are safe.ESET Internet Security 10 : Recommended settings

 

[BoraMurdar]

Since infecting with ransomware is very unlikely if you know what you're doing, but in a case of some exploit or breakthrough, you should just keep your healthy backups somewhere offline (external HDD or USB, DVD). You can also lock your important folders from modification using IObit Folder Lock or Wise Folder Hider, but those will not help from ransomware encrypting from outside of Windows (like Petya variants).

So :

• keep your router firmware up to date and configure it properly
• keep your XP updated (if it's POS ready)
• keep your AV updated
• use Limited User Account if needed

Still XP has some system level vulnerabilities and it is very hard to protect it if something is exploited, as any malware invading through the system holes will burn any security product to ashes.
My advice - use Lubuntu

 

[mekelek]

No.If you follow this you are safe.ESET Internet Security 10 : Recommended settings

the guide is not applicable to what the laptop is used as and who is using it. running ESET on default settings with everything enabled, and from the tests in malware hub, ESET failed on almost all ransomware

Since infecting with ransomware is very unlikely if you know what you're doing, but in a case of some exploit or breakthrough, you should just keep your healthy backups somewhere offline (external HDD or USB, DVD). You can also lock your important folders from modification using IObit Folder Lock or Wise Folder Hider, but those will not help from ransomware encrypting from outside of Windows (like Petya variants).

So :

• keep your router firmware up to date and configure it properly
• keep your XP updated (if it's POS ready)
• keep your AV updated
• use Limited User Account if needed

Still XP has some system level vulnerabilities and it is very hard to protect it if something is exploited, as any malware invading through the system holes will burn any security product to ashes.
My advice - use Lubuntu

the laptop is not used by someone who knows what he's doing, i forgot to mention that

think of it like its used by your grandma for example, that bad.

 

[Captain Awesome]

the guide is not applicable to what the laptop is used as and who is using it. running ESET on default settings with everything enabled, and from the tests in malware hub, ESET failed on almost all ransomware


the laptop is not used by someone who knows what he's doing, i forgot to mention that

Then Backup and chenge the AV and use another AV like avast with HM....No AV is 100%.

 

[BoraMurdar]

think of it like its used by your grandma for example, that bad.

Limited User Account, Admin Account [Password Protected] and you're fine

 

[mekelek]

Then Backup and chenge the AV and use another AV like avast with HM....No AV is 100%.

i would, but the laptop is already dying with ESET on it, and there isn't any lighter and better AV than that.

 

[Deleted member 178]

Invest in Shadow Defender

 

[Parsh]

Tools like SD or Rollback RX are the better options and a little training for committing a few files to be permanently written to disk (etc) will be necessary.
If not, and if you just want a standalone anti-RW and not replace the AV itself, Cybereason RansomFree or CheckMal Appcheck are some options.
RansomFree protected 2/3 times in recent MH tests (though not great, limited options and free version products will bring such protection) and is moderately light. Appcheck free on the other hand has limited protection by provisions. I am not aware of it's resource usage though. @Evjl's Rain can say a word or two about that.

 

[mekelek]

Tools like SD or Rollback RX are the better options and a little training for committing a few files to be permanently written to disk (etc) will be necessary.
If not, and if you just want a standalone anti-RW and not replace the AV itself, Cybereason RansomFree or CheckMal Appcheck are some options.
RansomFree protected 2/3 times in recent MH tests (though not great, limited options and free version products will bring such protection) and is moderately light. Appcheck free on the other hand has limited protection by provisions. I am not aware of it's resource usage though. @Evjl's Rain can say a word or two about that.

"At this time, RansomFree is supported on Windows 7, 8, 10, 2008 R2 and 2012 R2."
same with Appcheck.

I'm solely looking for an additional software i can install on the laptop that doesn't siphon all of its resources.

 

[Rengar]

How about Panda free av??

 

[mekelek]

How about Panda free av??

seems like a downgrade to me from ESET

 

[Deleted member 178]

XP is so vulnerable that any AV won't change the game; maybe an HIPS will do but it is "grandma"... so virtualization is your best bet.

- Shadow Defender (paid)
- TimeFreeze (free)

 

[mekelek]

XP is so vulnerable that any AV won't change the game; maybe an HIPS will do but it is grandma so virtualization is your best bet.

i guess i just gotta pray "grandma" won't open a fake UPS package email attachment that isn't even in "her" language.

 

[Deleted member 178]

i guess i just gotta pray "grandma" won't open a fake UPS package email attachment that isn't even in "her" language.

Shadow Defender will take care of that, one reboot , hop ! all changes are reverted.

 

[Deleted member 178]

there a video made by our dear @cruelsister

Video Review - Shadow Defender vs TimeFreeze

 

[mekelek]

Shadow Defender will take care of that, one reboot , hop ! all changes are reverted.

"grandma" wouldn't be happy with that since the laptop is heavily used and i don't want to give technical support every 2 minutes.

only if kaspersky antiransomware would support xp, i wouldn't have this headache rn.

if this wouldn't be a problematic case, i wouldn't have made a thread here

 

[509322]

Running a really old and weak laptop with XP SP3, running ESET on it but since we all know, ESET is weak against Ransomware, i'm looking for a light standalone anti-ransomware that still supports XP SP3.

Please don't advise me to install Windows 7, if I could, I would, but it would eat the laptop for breakfast.

I assume you wanted freeware:

IWR Consultancy : Simple Software-Restriction Policy

The above is stronger protection than any standalone anti-ransomware and will not impact your XP system performance.

 

[Deleted member 178]

@Lockdown good pick

 

[mekelek]

I assume you wanted freeware:

IWR Consultancy : Simple Software-Restriction Policy

The above is stronger protection than any standalone anti-ransomware and will not impact your XP system performance.

doesn't need to be freeware, just need one with XP support. will take a look at that, thanks.