SINGAPORE, January 25, 2018 – Acronis, a global leader in hybrid
cloud data protection and storage, today released Acronis Ransomware
Protection, a free, stand-alone version of its unique AI-based Acronis Active
Protection technology, which stops ransomware attacks in real-time and helps
users to recover data without paying the ransom.

Recent ransomware attacks exposed the vulnerability of
endpoint devices, showing that new strains of ransomware can easily bypass
traditional anti-virus software to encrypt user data. Acronis Ransomware
Protection provides an additional level of defense that can be used together
with other data protection solutions already installed on the device, such as anti-virus
and backup software. It monitors system processes in real-time to automatically
detect and stop the attacks other solutions can’t. In event
of a ransomware attack, Acronis Ransomware Protection blocks the malicious
process and notifies the user with a popup. If any files were damaged in the
attack, it facilitates the instant recovery of those affected files.

Acronis Ransomware Protection
also comes with a cloud backup capability, allowing users to protect important files
not only from ransomware, but also from hardware failure, natural disasters and
other causes of data loss. Every user receives 5 GB of free Acronis Cloud
storage.

Easy to install,
Acronis Ransomware Protection is essentially a “set it and forget it” protection
solution. The lightweight program (only 20MB) requires limited system
resources, which means it can run quietly in the background without affecting
system performance. Acronis Ransomware Protection is also compatible with all popular
backup and anti-virus programs, enabling users to add a robust layer of
protection without modifying their existing setup.

Ransomware remains a
silent destroyer of data for users worldwide. According to a ransomware survey
conducted by Acronis earlier this month, 57.5 percent of the respondents still
don’t know that ransomware can wipe their files and disable computer. Only 9.2
percent of the respondents heard about the WannaCry or NotPetya attacks last
year, and 37.4 percent report that they don’t know how to protect their data or
choose to do nothing.

These findings
demonstrate a need for an easy, universal ransomware protection solution, and
55.5 percent of the survey respondents said that they would use one if it was
free.

The new solution is based on Acronis Active Protection, which numerous independent tests have ranked the
most effective and reliable ransomware protection technology on the market.
Acronis stops thousands of attacks every month, saving people’s precious family
photos, videos, and important documents. There are many ways to test the
effectiveness of the free Acronis Ransomware Protection solution, including the
ransomware simulator from RanSim.

Built on that battle-tested
technology, Acronis Ransomware Protection uses unique behavioral heuristics
enhanced by machine learning (ML) models, which are generated by analyzing hundreds
of thousands of malicious and legitimate processes in Acronis’ dedicated Cloud
AI infrastructure. Those models are incorporated directly into the Acronis Ransomware
Protection product, so it protects a system’s data independently, without the
need for an internet connection.
This AI-based functionality is tremendously
effective at defeating all ransomware strains, including zero-day attacks that
signature-based solutions cannot detect.

“Acronis is deeply concerned by what the explosion of
ransomware means to businesses and consumers worldwide,” said Serguei Beloussov, co-founder, and CEO of Acronis. “Our
mission is data protection and ransomware puts everyone’s data at risk. With Acronis
Ransomware Protection, we’re making ransomware a less viable tool for criminals,
and protecting the data of individuals, families, and businesses.”

Anyone looking to download the free version of Acronis
Active Protection can visit www.acronis.com and follow the links to the free download. It’s
currently available for Windows only.

Acronis sets the standard for hybrid
cloud IT data protection through its backup, ransomware Active Protection,
disaster recovery, and secure file sync and share solutions. Powered by the
Acronis AnyData Engine and set apart by its image technology, Acronis delivers
easy, fast, complete, and affordable data protection of all files, applications
and operating systems across any environment—virtual, physical, cloud, mobile
and applications. Founded in 2003, Acronis protects the data of more than 5
million consumers and 500,000 businesses in over 150 countries and 20
languages. With more than 100 patents,
Acronis products are consistently named best product of the year and cover a
range of features, including migration, cloning, and replication. Today,
Acronis solutions are available worldwide through a global network of service
providers, distributors, and cloud resellers. Learn more at acronis.com/en-us.