Would my antivirus protect me from Akira Ransomware ?

dan99t · 24 Jul 2023

Hi,

I am using Win-7 with last final 2020 update.

I am also using ESET Internet Security antivirus.

I have Fiber Internet connection with router.

Would any of above protect me from Akira Ransomware ?

I take precautions not to download any attachments in email or open suspicious emails but might make a mistake to open unknown websites.

Does router act as a hardware firewall or give any kind of protection ?

I do make back ups everyday but if I get infected & replace SSD & HDD, would putting back a back up SSD, HDD again get infected & if yes what should I do ?

Thank You

samuria · 24 Jul 2023

No AV is 100% it will help but there is no way to be sure the router if using nat is a type of firewall but it normal to get ransomeware that way

Alejandro85 · 25 Jul 2023

Antiviruses are obsolete things of the past, kept alive up to 2023 by the sheer powers of marketing departments, not by security experts, so no, they won't really protect you against anything.

Antiviruses may catch some viruses, but it depends on a myrad of factors that they'll catch some specific virus delivered in some specific way. Like always, they excel in stoping known, already spread menaces and they fall apart with brand new viruses that are just released into the wild. The important thing is that the mere act of having an antivirus doesn't make you immune to anything (and sometimes makes you more prone to them).

A router often is a strong protection against scanners on internet that target vulnerabilities on servers, they're very good at stoping outside connections to you, but won't do anything for you while browsing the web where your computer starts the communication.

Backups are probably the best protection against many viruses, ransomwares in particular. After reformating you can restore all your files to where they were and you're good to go, of course assuming the backups themselves aren't infected. That's why you must discard those made after you saw signs of something wrong, and only consider trusted those before the incident.

Common sense is probably your best tool against infections, while it's not hard to catch a virus if you're reckless, it's not too easy if you're careful. The most severe vulnerability any system has is the user himself, and the best protection is user education and good practices.

dan99t · 26 Jul 2023

Alejandro85 said:

Antiviruses are obsolete things of the past, kept alive up to 2023 by the sheer powers of marketing departments, not by security experts, so no, they won't really protect you against anything.

Antiviruses may catch some viruses, but it depends on a myrad of factors that they'll catch some specific virus delivered in some specific way. Like always, they excel in stoping known, already spread menaces and they fall apart with brand new viruses that are just released into the wild. The important thing is that the mere act of having an antivirus doesn't make you immune to anything (and sometimes makes you more prone to them).

A router often is a strong protection against scanners on internet that target vulnerabilities on servers, they're very good at stoping outside connections to you, but won't do anything for you while browsing the web where your computer starts the communication.

Backups are probably the best protection against many viruses, ransomwares in particular. After reformating you can restore all your files to where they were and you're good to go, of course assuming the backups themselves aren't infected. That's why you must discard those made after you saw signs of something wrong, and only consider trusted those before the incident.

Common sense is probably your best tool against infections, while it's not hard to catch a virus if you're reckless, it's not too easy if you're careful. The most severe vulnerability any system has is the user himself, and the best protection is user education and good practices.

Quite an eyeopening advice. Did learn new things.
Really appreciate it &
THANK YOU.

billmcct · 26 Jul 2023

Alejandro85 said:

Backups are probably the best protection against many viruses, ransomwares in particular. After reformating you can restore all your files to where they were and you're good to go, of course assuming the backups themselves aren't infected. That's why you must discard those made after you saw signs of something wrong, and only consider trusted those before the incident.

Common sense is probably your best tool against infections, while it's not hard to catch a virus if you're reckless, it's not too easy if you're careful. The most severe vulnerability any system has is the user himself, and the best protection is user education and good practices.

Backups are great, however imaging is better as far as restoring the disk to original. My Win 7 is updated to July 2023 and as usual when I update it to August 8th I will image the C: drive. After cleaning the drive of all the junk. And YES common sense is the best way to protect yourself. Even though my Avast has ransomware protection, I also use Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit.