How to Turn On Anti-Ransomware – Controlled Folder Access in Windows 10

Ransomware in nowadays become very common as hackers are becoming more and more smarter. To keep your Windows Computer protected from these kinds of hack attempts, you need to take more crucial steps rather than just installing Antivirus and Malware removal tools.

The Ransomware attacks are so dangerous that even government is sometimes failing to overcome with it and they have to sometimes close their operations like ATMs, and many other functions. Due to a large number of hack attempts, sometimes Microsoft had been blamed for not updating more security features for dealing with these kinds of problems.

How to Turn On Anti-Ransomware Features in Windows 10 to Block Unauthorized Access to Hackers

But now, with the latest Windows 10 Creator Update, now Microsoft has provided a built-in anti-ransomware feature named as Controlled Folder Access. This feature is part of Windows Defender and helps in blocking the unauthorized applications to make any changes to your important files located in certain “Protected” folders.

Once you turned on this feature on your Windows 10 PC, it will keep on tracking all the changes made by you in real time. Also, it will let you know about any unauthorized access trying to enter on your Windows and block it immediately and instantly notifies you. Only the applications which are on the Whitelist can only access the secured folder.

Steps to Activate Controlled Folder Access in Windows 10

Enabling the Controlled Folder Access is very much easy. Just follow these simple steps.

Step 1: Go to the Start Menu and open Windows Defender Security Center.

Step 2: After opening this, you will see various options, from these options select Virus & Threat Protection settings.

Step 3:  There, you will see the Controlled Folder Access which is turned off, turn it on. You are done now.

Now, after turning the Controlled Folder Access on, all your Library folders such as Documents, Pictures, Videos, Music, Favorites as well as Desktop will be protected automatically. As these are the default folders which are automatically added by Windows. But, you can also add more folders to it if you want.

Steps to Add or Remove Folders from Controlled Folder Access

Here are the simple steps which you can follow to add or remove the folders you want in the Controlled Folder Access feature.

Note: Once you add any folder to Controlled Folder Access, then you cannot change the folder location or move that protected folder from one place to another.

Step 1: Again you have to go to the settings of your Windows 10 and select Windows Defender Security Center.

Step 2: Now from there, go to the Virus & Threat Protection settings option.

Step 3: There, you will see many options, click on “Protected folders” in the Controlled folder access area.

Step 4: Now, you have to enter the full path of the folder which you want to add for proper monitoring.

With the above steps, your desired folder is added. Now, if any unauthorized app or process tries to access it and change its contents, the attempt will be stopped and you will see Unauthorized Changes Blocked notification in the bottom right corner of your screen.

Steps to Allow an app through Controlled folder access in Windows 10

Microsoft has allowed most of the apps through Controlled folder access. But, you can also remove and add any apps you want. Now, here are the steps through you can allow the access to any blocked apps. The steps are similar to above, but still, I will explore them for your convenience.

Step 1: Same as above, Go to the settings of your Windows 10 and select Windows Defender Security Center.

Step 2: Now, you will see various options, from these options select Virus & Threat Protection settings.

Step 3: Select the “Allow an app through Controlled folder access” option and then click on Add an allowed app.

Now, after completing all the above procedure, your Windows 10 system is now secured from all the Ransomware. You will not get any other feature safe and secure like this by Microsoft. This is the safe move by Microsoft in terms of security. Also, you can use some third-party app for protecting your Windows PC if you want some extra security.

So, this is all for this article. Hope you will make your Windows 10 more safe using this advanced feature. If you have some other methods for protecting your Windows from Ransomware, please comment below. We would definitely like to publish it on our website. If you find this article resourceful, then please share it on social media and also with your friends.