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Cybereason announced RansomFree in December 2016 as a free anti-ransomware tool for individuals and small businesses. It is no longer available from the company: Cybereason ended new downloads effective November 29, 2018, and discontinued maintenance, updates, and support. Its launch claims and advertised Windows compatibility are historical, not a current recommendation.
What Cybereason said RansomFree would do
In its December 19, 2016 announcement, Cybereason described RansomFree as software designed to detect and stop more than 99 percent of ransomware variants. That figure was the company’s launch claim, not an independently established test result. The company said the tool used behavioral detection and proprietary deception techniques to identify ransomware activity rather than relying on malware signatures, and that it would stop attempted file encryption. It also said RansomFree could protect network shared drives as well as the computer on which it was installed. Cybereason’s launch announcement explains those claims.
At launch, Cybereason quoted co-founder and CEO Lior Div describing RansomFree as “free, easy-to-install ransomware protection software” for individuals and businesses lacking the budget and skills to fight back. The announcement presented the tool as a way to detect ransomware behavior; it did not establish that it could prevent every attack or replace a broader security and backup plan.
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Is RansomFree still available or supported?
No. Cybereason’s discontinuation notice, published December 8, 2018, says new downloads ended effective November 29, 2018. The company also said it would no longer maintain the software or provide corrections, updates, new versions, or support to people who continued using it. A copy downloaded earlier might continue to function for an indeterminate period, but Cybereason did not guarantee how long. The notice is available at Cybereason’s RansomFree discontinuation page.
#1 Best Overall
- Slim durable design to help take your important files with you
- Vast capacities up to 6TB[1] to store your photos, videos, music, important documents and more
- Back up smarter with included device management software[2] with defense against ransomware
- Help secure your important files with password protection and hardware encryption
- 3-year limited warranty
That means a copy found on an unofficial download site should not be treated as a supported or safe way to obtain the product. The company’s discontinuation notice establishes that distribution and support ended; it does not establish that every previously installed copy has stopped working. Nor does the available information establish a particular current replacement. Anyone choosing security software now should verify that it is actively maintained and supports their operating system.
Which Windows versions did the launch announcement list?
Cybereason advertised RansomFree for PCs running Windows 7, 8, and 10, as well as Windows Server 2008 R2 and 2012 R2. Its Japanese-language announcement for the Japanese edition, published July 18, 2017, listed the same operating-system families. These are the versions named at the time—not evidence of present compatibility, continued updates, or support. See the Japanese-edition announcement.
Rank #2
- Slim durable design to help take your important files with you
- Vast capacities up to 6TB[1] to store your photos, videos, music, important documents and more
- Back up smarter with included device management software[2] with defense against ransomware
- Help secure your important files with password protection and hardware encryption
- 3-year limited warranty
What Cybereason advised about ransomware backups
In consumer guidance published March 6, 2018, Cybereason advised keeping backups current and regularly checking that files could be restored. It also recommended avoiding software from dubious or unrecognized sources and installing an anti-ransomware tool. This was dated company advice, not a complete modern security checklist. The backup recommendation remains practical: a backup is useful only if it is separate from the files it protects and can be restored when needed. Cybereason’s article also said 700,000 consumers were using RansomFree at that time; that is a company-reported 2018 figure, not a current user count. Read the consumer guidance.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteAn external drive can be one way to keep a separate copy of important files, but it is not ransomware-proof and is not a substitute for active, supported security software. Cybereason’s guidance did not endorse a particular drive. Whatever backup method you choose, keep a copy disconnected or otherwise isolated when it is not being updated, and test restoring files rather than assuming a backup works.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- World’s First 6TB 2.5” Portable Hard Drive
- Slim durable design to help take your important files with you
- Vast capacities up to 6TB[1] to store your photos, videos, music, important documents and more
- Back up smarter with included device management software[2] with defense against ransomware
- Help secure your important files with password protection and hardware encryption
Rank #4
- THREAT DETECTION – Stay one step ahead. Suspicious links, risky sites, viruses, and scams, caught automatically before they reach you.
- PERSONAL INFO PROTECTION – Keep your personal info safer. Identity monitoring watches for your exposed info and tells you what to do about it.
- SECURE CONNECTIONS – Just a few easy clicks, and we'll automatically protect your info on public Wi‑Fi, every time you connect.
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- MORE THAN ANTIVIRUS – Scam protection, identity monitoring, VPN, web protection, and antivirus work together to protect you, all in one place.
Rank #3
- Slim durable design to help take your important files with you
- Back up smarter with included device management software[2] with defense against ransomware
- Help secure your important files with password protection and hardware encryption
- 3-year limited warranty
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