Alternatively, you could remove My Documents from the list of protected folders. When you click the 'Add an allowed app' button, there's an option to view which ones were recently blocked, to make it quick and easy to grant access. However, this is easy enough to get around. That's because by default, the My Documents folder is protected. We tried this ourselves, and it blocked us from running a game-FIFA 21. You should also routinely back up any important data, and as always, following smart computing habits (like not clicking on links in unsolicited emails) to tip the odds in your favor. So there you have it, Windows 10 can add a layer of protection to specific folders, if you want it to. After installing a 'pretty deadly ransomware' strain on a test system, the Controlled folder access feature prevented the designated folders from being altered, while non-protected folders ended up encrypted. The PC Security Channel on YouTube posted a video (opens in new tab) showing the mechanism in action. Small businesses in particular are disproportionately targeted, but facilitators of ransomware do also go after individuals.Īs to the ransomware protection in Windows 10, it does actually work. Of course, those are mainly businesses forking over that kind of money to attackers who are holding their data hostage. The best NVMe SSD (opens in new tab): this slivers of SSD goodnessīest external hard drives (opens in new tab): expand your horizonsīest external SSDs (opens in new tab): plug in upgrades for gaming laptops and consoles Best SSD for gaming (opens in new tab): the best solid state drives aroundīest PCIe 4.0 SSD for gaming (opens in new tab): the next gen has landed

Windows controlled folder access