The Best Ransomware Scanners

Find malicious ransomware on your network quickly and securely with these ransomware scanners.

Ransomware poses an increasing threat to a vast number of businesses, but the threat that it poses can be offset by the clever incorporation of several security systems.

The best approach to preventing ransomware attacks is the proactive scanning and mitigation of exploits through a dedicated ransomware scanner. These solutions use intelligent systems—from log reading to AI-driven behavioral analysis, to catch malicious agents in the process of setting up a ransomware attack long before they can pose a threat to your network.

Here is our list of the best ransomware scanners:

1. ManageEngine Endpoint Central – FREE TRIAL This remote monitoring and management package for IT departments includes a ransomware detection system and a backup and recovery service. Runs on Windows Server or can be accessed as a cloud service. Get a 30-day free trial.
2. CrowdStrike Falcon Insight XDR A highly competent, enterprise-grade ransomware scanner, Falcon Insight XDR from CrowdStrike aims to provide thorough and consistent insight into a broad range of endpoints.
3. Rapid7 InsightIDR An Insight Agent allows InsightIDR, a cloud-based unified SIEM, to gather data from your whole network environment. Thanks to unified data collection, security, IT, and DevOps teams can collaborate effectively to monitor and assess their network.
4. SpinOne A 24/7, fully automated ransomware defense tool that is designed exclusively to safeguard data on Gmail, Google Drive, and shared drives.
5. ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware A commercial security program that is designed to safeguard a single device rather than a whole network, by using real-time behavior analysis to spot and neutralize ransomware threats.
6. GravityZone Business Security For small to medium-sized enterprises that require a top-notch solution at an affordable price, GravityZone Business Security is one of the best ransomware scanning options on the market.
7. Exabeam By attacking the solution from two sides, Exabeam offers both a SIEM and an XDR solution that can both offer significant ransomware protection.
8. Avast One Avast offers a free ransomware scanning tool that is ideal for single devices if you need a cost-effective solution for your ransomware screening and mitigation requirements.

SIEM or XDR?

Throughout this article, you will see mention of the acronyms ‘SIEM’ and ‘XDR’—both of which pertain to a similar approach to handling security analytics and threat response. They differ slightly but fundamentally achieve the same thing through slightly different approaches. But what are SIEM and XDR?

• Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) focuses primarily on the scanning and detection of potential threats within a network through parsing event data and direct system logs. SIEM is the classic method of scanning for malware, ransomware, and malicious activity.
• Extended Detection and Response (XDR) goes beyond the capabilities of SIEM by adding extra functionality beyond the standard event log analysis. This typically means the inclusion of things like behavioral analysis and has a broader focus that can extend across multiple domains. XDR is the more modern approach to ransomware detection.

The Best Ransomware Scanners

1. ManageEngine Endpoint Central – FREE TRIAL

ManageEngine Endpoint Central is a remote monitoring and management package that is designed for use by IT departments. There is a version for managed service providers, called Endpoint Central MSP. This package includes a backup service to prepare for disaster and a ransomware scanner. It provides the ideal combination of systems to guard against ransomware attacks.

Key Features:

 

• File Backup: Automatically saves copies of your files to prevent loss during an attack.
• Process Monitoring: Scans for and identifies unauthorized applications running on endpoints.
• File Change Detection: Alerts on unexpected modifications to files, indicating potential threats.
• Process Termination: Ends unauthorized processes that could harm files.
• File Restoration: Retrieves files from backups if original data is compromised.
• Behavioral Analysis: Monitors user actions for signs of unusual activity, enhancing security.
• Comprehensive Protection: Combines backup, monitoring, and scanning for a robust defense against ransomware.

Why do we recommend it?

We recommend ManageEngine Endpoint Central for its comprehensive suite of tools designed to manage and secure a wide range of devices. Its anti-ransomware capabilities provide a proactive approach to cybersecurity, making it a valuable asset for IT departments.

The Endpoint Central system assesses all of the software on each endpoint and approves known packages. It will then ignore those reliable systems when scanning for threats, speeding up the threat scanning process. An administrator can add software to this list of trusted systems. The package tracks the activity of all of the other software on an endpoint, looking for unusual activity. The ideal situation is to have only trusted software installed on each endpoint so that any other software on the system is automatically treated as suspicious.

Software management functions include license management. The system also scans the software inventory of each endpoint regularly, looking for patch availability. The service automatically updates software when patches become available.

System scanning services include file monitoring, looking for unauthorized changes. This service involves user behavior analytics, looking for unusual and unexpected behavior. This activity tracking is the main mechanism for spotting ransomware.

Rather than providing its own backup and recovery service, the Endpoint Central system activates the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) that is built into Windows. This provides backups automatically and the Endpoint Central console can interface to these stores, identifying which damaged files can be recovered. The tool doesn’t back up computers running macOS or Linux, so administrators will have to make alternative arrangements to protect files on those operating systems.

Who is it recommended for?

This platform is ideal for IT professionals seeking a robust solution for managing and protecting endpoint devices, including those brought by employees (BYOD). It's particularly suitable for organizations requiring advanced security measures like anti-ransomware protection and data loss prevention.

Endpoint Central is available as a SaaS platform or as a software package for Windows Server. There are several editions of the package with more features in high, more expensive plans. The Free edition includes all of the features of the most expensive plan, except that it is limited to managing 25 endpoints. You can get an unrestricted  30-day free trial of the top plan in either of its deployment options.

ManageEngine Endpoint Central Start a 30-day FREE Trial

2. CrowdStrike Falcon Insight XDR

Falcon Insight XDR by CrowdStrike is a highly-professional, enterprise-grade ransomware scanner that is aimed toward comprehensive and consistent insight into a wide scope of endpoints. The system is geared towards protecting from all manner of malicious attacks, not just ransomware, which makes it an excellent choice for a long-term security solution. The tool provides continuous monitoring that records endpoint activity while also delivering comprehensive analysis and visibility to automatically spot unusual activities and guarantee that breaches and covert assaults are halted.

Key Features:

• Cloud-Native: Offers flexibility and scalability with its cloud-based infrastructure.
• Scalable Protection: Tailored to meet the demands of large enterprises, ensuring robust security.
• Advanced EDR: Utilizes intelligent endpoint detection and response to identify threats quickly.
• Proactive Threat Hunting: Enables the identification and mitigation of hidden cyber threats.
• Continuous Monitoring: Records all endpoint activity to provide a comprehensive security overview.

Why do we recommend it?

CrowdStrike Falcon Insight XDR stands out for its enterprise-grade capabilities, offering a comprehensive security solution that extends well beyond basic ransomware protection. Its blend of continuous monitoring, advanced threat detection, and intelligent EDR makes it an excellent choice for organizations aiming for top-tier cybersecurity measures.

Falcon Insight also offers the ability to enable threat hunting with complete endpoint activity details. Threat hunting means actively looking for cyber threats that are present in a network but go unnoticed—and involves a combination of AI-driven detection and human oversight. The system also includes a simple-to-use Incident Workbench that can break down and analyze any presented attack while containing context and threat intelligence data. The inbuilt CrowdScore system provides situational awareness of your organization's current threat level and how it is evolving over time.

Who is it recommended for?

Ideal for large enterprises and organizations with complex security needs, Falcon Insight XDR caters to those seeking an all-encompassing solution capable of addressing a multitude of cyber threats, including but not limited to ransomware.

Overall, Falcon Insight XDR is the best option for complete security insight and protection that goes beyond just ransomware, but if ransomware protection is all you’re looking for, then cheaper alternatives exist.

The solution comes with a 15-day free trial to test the available features within your existing business environment. Falcon Insight XDR comes as part of a full Falcon product subscription, specifically as an optional extra attached to either the Falcon Enterprise or Falcon Elite product subscriptions. The Falcon Enterprise package is listed as costing $15.99 per endpoint per month but expect additional costs to add Falcon Insight XDR to that package.

3. Rapid7 InsightIDR

Rapid7 InsightIDR is a cloud-based unified SIEM that works through an ‘Insight Agent’ to get information from your network environment as a whole. Security, IT, and DevOps teams can work together efficiently to monitor and evaluate their environments thanks to unified data collecting.

Rapid7 claim that this installed agent provides more accurate insight into the inner security of your network beyond merely reading and interpreting log/event data that is typical of SIEM products. Regardless, the agent does collect endpoint data such as complete asset details, Windows registry details, file version, and package details, running processes, authentication details, local security details, event logs, etc.

Key Features:

• Network Traffic Insights: Analyzes network activity to identify potential security threats.
• Efficient Agent: Utilizes a lightweight, intelligent agent for in-depth data collection.
• Behavioral Analytics: Monitors user and entity behaviors to detect anomalies.
• Integrated Threat Intel: Incorporates threat intelligence for informed security decisions.
• Automated Response: Streamlines the response to identified threats through automation.

Why do we recommend it?

Rapid7 InsightIDR is highly recommended for its unique approach to SIEM, leveraging a sophisticated agent to provide deeper insights into network security than traditional log-based systems. Its emphasis on behavioral analytics and threat intelligence makes it a powerful tool for identifying and responding to cyber threats efficiently.

InsightIDR's curated ‘intrusion detection system’ (IDS) zeroes in on serious threats, whereas other network monitoring technologies can generate a lot of noise. You can get extra network metadata to comprehend the complete breadth of activities for robust forensics and investigations. Normal user behavior is regularly baselined by InsightIDR, meaning that regardless of whether attackers pose as employees, the detection systems will almost always flag them as suspicious. Correlated user data also provides significant context for further attacker alarms, accelerating your inquiries and actions.

Who is it recommended for?

This solution is best suited for medium to large organizations that require a robust, unified SIEM system capable of providing a comprehensive view of their network environment. Teams that value collaboration across security, IT, and DevOps will find its integrated approach particularly beneficial.

InsightIDR has a 30-day free trial available to sign-up for and download through the provided link on the website. The full product works through a monthly subscription model and costs around $5.89/mo per asset, with a 500 asset minimum applied.

4. SpinOne

SpinOne is a fully automated, round-the-clock ransomware protection solution specifically tailored for protecting data on Gmail, Google Drive, and Shared Drives. The system can identify malicious sources to stop unenforced encryption, revoke any maliciously acquired API access, and stop other files or communications in your Google Workspace environment from being encrypted.

Key Features:

• Google Workspace Protection: Tailored to safeguard Gmail, Google Drive, and Shared Drives from ransomware.
• Anti-Encryption Measures: Prevents unauthorized encryption by identifying and stopping malicious sources.
• App Security Assessment: Evaluates apps for risks and revokes harmful API accesses.
• Unified Dashboard: Offers centralized monitoring for easier management of security policies and incidents.
• Alert Automation: Sends automated alerts via Slack or email to administrators about security breaches.

Why do we recommend it?

SpinOne is recommended for its robust, automated protection tailored specifically for Google Workspace, making it an essential security tool for organizations heavily utilizing Gmail, Google Drive, and Shared Drives. Its proactive measures against ransomware and integrated recovery solutions offer peace of mind and enhanced data security.

SpinOne also provides the ability to automatically send Slack or email security alerts to the domain administrator, which can allow you to determine the number of encrypted files, then start an automated recovery process using the most recent successfully backed-up version.

To detect, prevent, mitigate, and recover from significant cyber security incidents, such as cloud ransomware attacks, SpinOne gives Google Workspace administrators the ability to apply several security measures. You can define security settings in SpinOne to enable unique security policies by your organization's requirements. The product enables mission-critical enterprise data to be monitored, managed, and protected through a centralized dashboard.

Who is it recommended for?

This solution is ideally suited for businesses and educational institutions that rely on Google Workspace for their daily operations and require dedicated protection against ransomware threats within this environment.

SpinOne has a free trial alongside the full product, both of which are downloaded and installed through the Google Workspace marketplace. The full product is broken down into various available subsections that can be licensed individually or in a broader package that contains all components.

The SpinSecurity package for $5.00 per user/month contains the ‘Proactive Ransomware Monitoring & Response’, but it lacks features like customizable security policies or broader incident monitoring that you may find necessary. These additional and fundamental features come with the full SpinOne package for $9.00 per user/month.

5. ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware

ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware is a commercial security solution aimed mostly toward protecting individual devices as opposed to an entire network. The solution employs real-time behavior analysis that is used to identify and stop ransomware threats with a primary focus on threats that ‘conventional’ endpoint protection applications would otherwise miss. The Anti-Ransomware capability can recognize and address zero-day ransomware threats by utilizing behavioral technologies that do not rely on conventional signature updates.

Key Features:

• Behavioral Detection: Analyzes patterns to identify and block ransomware in real-time.
• Automated Quarantine: Isolates and neutralizes malware threats automatically.
• Quick Data Recovery: Enables swift restoration of files affected by attacks.
• Web Security Integration: Works in tandem with ZoneAlarm Web Secure for enhanced protection.
• Encryption Monitoring: Scans for unauthorized encryption activities to prevent data compromise.

Why do we recommend it?

ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware is highly recommended for its effective real-time analysis and ability to swiftly counteract ransomware threats. Its emphasis on behavioral detection offers a strong defense against even the most sophisticated zero-day attacks, making it a valuable tool for individual and small business users.

The product contains a separate file-tracking engine that searches for indications that data files, including documents and photographs, are being improperly and repeatedly encrypted. The file-tracking engine closely monitors all file modifications, determining which programs are modifying data files and the nature of the modification. It is intended to accurately distinguish between legal and illegal activity. All malicious components of the threat, as determined by the customizable forensic attack model, are terminated and quarantined using ZoneAlarm's malware eradication features.

Who is it recommended for?

This solution is particularly suitable for individuals and small businesses looking for a powerful yet affordable ransomware protection solution for their PCs. Its straightforward deployment and rapid response capabilities make it an ideal choice for those without extensive IT resources.

The solution has a free trial that can be tested out for a better understanding of how the solution works (be aware that the hyperlink will automatically download the trial from that web page). As mentioned, the product is aimed toward individual PCs instead of full network protection, so this is best considered when looking for a solution for smaller businesses.

The full product is licensed on a yearly or 2-year basis and costs approximately $25.95 per PC license. However, the costs decrease with more purchases up to a maximum of 10 devices for $74.95—meaning there are significant discounts available when buying for more endpoints.

6. GravityZone Business Security

GravityZone Business Security is one of the best ransomware scanner solutions available on the market for small-to-medium scale businesses that need an excellent solution at a reasonable price. The included Ransomware Mitigation features are intended to lessen the effects of an ongoing ransomware assault by detecting any time a potential new ransomware strain tries to encrypt files, and it immediately makes a backup of the targeted files that can be restored when the malware has been stopped. GravityZone can also alert IT administrators, disable the attack's contributing processes, and initiate corrective action all in a single unified process.

Key Features:

• Ransomware Mitigation: Automatically creates backups of files targeted by ransomware attacks, allowing for easy recovery.
• Real-Time Defense: Utilizes machine learning to identify and neutralize malicious processes instantly.
• Human Risk Insights: Analyzes user behavior to prevent ransomware exploits related to unsafe practices.
• Protected File Backups: Ensures critical files are duplicated and safeguarded against encryption attempts.
• Flexible Deployment: Available for both on-premises and cloud environments, catering to diverse business needs.

Why do we recommend it?

GravityZone Business Security stands out for its comprehensive ransomware protection that not only anticipates attacks but also mitigates their impact through smart, automated responses. Its blend of real-time monitoring and unique human risk analytics offers a robust defense mechanism tailored for small-to-medium businesses.

New behavior patterns are accurately identified by machine learning anti-malware in real-time, and malicious processes are automatically detected and terminated by Advanced Anti-Exploit. With the help of GravityZone's numerous risk mitigation tools, businesses are protected from ransomware assaults by systems and application flaws and incorrect configurations, and its special Human Risk Analytics module ensures that ransomware attacks that take advantage of dangerous user activities and behaviors are prevented.

Who is it recommended for?

This tool is ideal for small-to-medium scale businesses seeking a sophisticated yet affordable ransomware defense solution. With its intuitive prevention and mitigation strategies, it's especially suited for organizations with limited IT resources but high security needs.

GravityZone Business Security by Bitdefender comes with a free trial. The full product is available for between 3 and 100 endpoints, with servers counting towards a portion of that maximum equivalent to around 30%. Licenses work on a 1-year, 2-year, or 3-year subscription with reduced costs at longer periods and larger endpoint commitments. For example, a 1-year license for 10 endpoints costs around $259, which can cover up to 3 servers from amongst those 10 endpoints.

7. Exabeam

Exabeam presents both a SIEM and XDR solution that can each provide substantial ransomware protection by approaching the solution from two angles. Alternatively, you can unify both the SIEM and XDR into a single and extremely potent security product. Fusion SIEM provides enterprise-scale logging and search combined with security analytics and automation. The product is fully cloud-delivered and uses automation and machine learning to discover risks that other products miss, while also increasing analyst productivity, and offering threat detection, investigation, and response.

Key Features:

• Integrated SIEM and XDR: Enhances security with combined capabilities for comprehensive coverage.
• Behavioral Analysis: Identifies threats based on user and entity behavior.
• Automated Threat Detection: Streamlines threat identification and response processes.
• Network Insight: Provides detailed visibility into network activities.
• Regulatory Compliance: Facilitates adherence to compliance standards with reporting tools.
• Workflow Automation: Allows security analysts to automate critical parts of their workflow for efficiency.

Why do we recommend it?

Exabeam‘s unified approach to SIEM and XDR provides an advanced, comprehensive defense mechanism against ransomware and other cyber threats. Its emphasis on behavioral analytics and automated threat detection and response significantly enhances an organization's ability to swiftly identify and mitigate risks.

Meanwhile, Fusion XDR scans weak data points to transform them into high-fidelity threat indicators by dismantling bottlenecks using behavioral analytics. This method quickly finds complex or internal threats, while also enabling analysts at all levels to automate their workflow, including incident response, evidence gathering, triage, and investigation.

Who is it recommended for?

This solution is best suited for enterprises that require a high degree of security integration and sophistication. It's ideal for organizations looking for a custom-tailored security solution that leverages automation and advanced analytics to improve their security posture and operational efficiency.

Exabeam doesn’t provide any form of free trial for either of their products, but they do offer demos that you can sign up for through the Exabeam website. For full details on pricing, you will need to contact Exabeam directly to discuss a quote on your exact business needs. While this does mean their pricing is obscured, it also means you can expect a level of customizability that might pay off with a bespoke package that fulfills your requirements.

8. Avast One

If you need a budget solution for your ransomware scanning and mitigation needs, then Avast provides a free ransomware scanning tool that works perfectly for individual devices. While it doesn’t compare to the other enterprise-grade, business-focussed solutions in this article; Avast presents a perfectly streamlined and excellent freely available product that anyone can install and run for quick and reliable protection. Avast provides their solution for Windows, iOS, Mac, and Android products to ensure your devices are secure across multiple platforms.

Key Features:

• No-Cost Ransomware Shield: Provides ransomware protection at no expense.
• Built-in Antivirus: Includes antivirus capabilities for comprehensive defense.
• Enhanced Firewall: Offers an advanced firewall for additional security.
• Network Advice: Delivers guidance on network and connectivity issues.
• Upgrade for More: Premium features available for an enhanced protection level.

Why do we recommend it?

Avast One stands out as a budget-friendly option for individuals or small businesses seeking reliable ransomware protection without the financial investment required by enterprise solutions. Its multi-layered security approach, coupled with multi-platform support, offers a robust defense against various cyber threats.

The solution detects ransomware early on before it has a chance to harm your data, by employing detection parameters across six layers of security. Additionally, Avast One protects you from phishing scams, wifi snoopers, data thieves, and more in addition to removing and preventing malware and ransomware.

Who is it recommended for?

This tool is highly recommended for personal use or for small businesses in need of cost-effective, straightforward ransomware and malware protection. It's especially beneficial for those looking to secure multiple device types without committing to a substantial financial outlay.

A premium upgrade for the product expands the capabilities of the default-free solution to include extra features that may pique your interest. This includes the ability to protect your sensitive personal information from unauthorized access, and the ability to monitor data breaches for compromised passwords to your online accounts. The premium solution is approximately $50.28 per year.