Software developed by SMU stops ransomware attacks

Good news! Sounds very promising and will hopefully defeat many criminals!



"The FBI estimates that ransomware victims have paid hackers more than $140 million in the last six-and-a-half years." 

And this estimate is only for the U.S. I presume.



"Unlike existing methods, such as antivirus software or other intrusion detection systems, SMU’s new software works even if the ransomware is new and has not been used before.

SMU’s detection method is known as sensor-based ransomware detection ... The new software also can scan a computer for ransomware much faster than existing software ... SMU’s software functions by searching for small, yet distinguishable changes in certain sensors that are found inside computers to detect when unauthorized encryptions are taking place. ... When attackers encrypt files, certain circuits inside the computer have specific types of power surges as files are scrambled. Computer sensors that measure temperature, power consumption, voltage levels, and other characteristics can detect these specific types of surges ... Southern Methodist University (SMU) has filed a patent application for this technique"



Software developed by SMU stops ransomware attacks – SMU Research Engineers from SMU’s Darwin Deason Institute for Cybersecurity have developed software that detects ransomware attacks before attackers can inflict catastrophic damage.