ShadowGuard

ShadowGuard is a nifty tool for Windows that helps keep your important files safe. It uses something called Shadow Copy technology to create backup copies or snapshots of your files, even while you're using them. This means if something goes wrong, like a bad ransomware attack, you can quickly recover your data without too much hassle.

How Ransomware Works

Ransomware and other types of malware often try to delete these shadow copies because it makes it super tough to get your files back once they're encrypted. So, having those backups is really important!

What Does ShadowGuard Do?

This is where ShadowGuard comes into play! It ensures that no one can delete those shadow copies without your permission. When it's running, this small app can jump into action if anything tries to wipe out those backups.

How Does It Work?

You might be wondering how it does this. Well, ShadowGuard attaches itself as a debugger to key Windows processes like powershell.exe, WMIC.exe, or VSSAdmin.exe. Its job? To catch any commands trying to mess with shadow copies before they do any damage!

Blocking Deletion Commands

If it spots a deletion command coming through, ShadowGuard stops it right in its tracks. This way, your valuable shadow copies stay intact! Plus, it sends a termination signal to the application that started the deletion attempt—basically kicking out the bad guys.

Be Mindful of Other Apps

A quick heads up: attaching ShadowGuard to the Powershell process could impact other applications that use Powershell commands. If you notice any strange behavior from an app, don't forget to disable ShadowGuard temporarily.

Create a Whitelist

The same advice goes for VSSAdmin.exe; sometimes it might interfere with backup applications. To avoid trouble, you can set up a whitelist for apps that are allowed to modify or delete shadow copies without being stopped by ShadowGuard.

Easy and User-Friendly

Overall, ShadowGuard is super simple to use and manage! Just keep in mind that while it's protecting you from ransomware and unwanted deletions, it might change how some Windows processes work—especially third-party apps handling volume shadow copies.