When it boils down to security and steering clear of adware, viruses, and other malicious content, there’s no topping the efficacy of Chrome OS. Being based on the Linux kernel, Chromebooks are touted as extremely secure devices, and there is a bevy of reasons how they’ve earned this title. Chrome OS incorporates an isolated sandbox environment that makes short work of any malware trying to establish malignancy, for starters. This method of containment is one of the ways Chrome OS is profoundly protected.
You would normally think to yourself that every major operating system out there is prone to virus invasions, including Chrome OS. We were in a similar boat, questioning the veracity of the top-of-the-line security of Chromebooks when they first launched in 2011. Over time, however, it was eventually proven with constant improvements, newer features, and other additions that this sleek and minimalistic operating system’s chances of being infected with a virus are as rare as an honest politician.
Chromebooks are oblivious of ransomware
Google has recently unveiled an interesting piece of statistics concerning the industry-grade security of Chrome OS. According to the tech tycoon, databases show a whopping 150% increase in ransomware attacks throughout the literal virus-ridden year of 2020, disrupting tons of individuals and businesses in their wake. The worst part is that this form of malware is insanely hard to spot. They often hide in third-party APKs, extensions from the Chrome Web Store, and even Play Store applications – thereby necessitating the need for anti-virus software which is something we highly recommend opting for.
- Let this article guide you to the top free antivirus software for Chromebooks if you’re interested in getting one.
In addition, ransomware can also disguise itself under email attachments. This is where a load of trouble can measure up for businesses and organizations who frequently communicate through the mail. Bearing that in mind, you might want to know what Google has announced publicly about all the ransomware-driven debacle.
It appears that Chromebooks have never been hit with ransomware—to date. So take a bow Chrome OS! In all honesty, this is no less than an immense feat that’s capable of attracting large-scale businesses right from the get-go. Combine that with Chromebook’s speed and stability, and you’ll have at your disposal a top-end IT department with plenty of power under the hood. Do take a sneak peek at our HP Elite c1030 Chromebook review to find out about powerful Chrome OS laptops.
The incident of this year’s 4th of July
To cast a lens on the independence day of the USA, the 4th of July was teeming with ransomware incidents. Reuters reported that almost 1500 businesses were massively hit with ransomware on the auspicious weekend, giving the victims no other option other than succumbing to the assault. A Russian group called REvil seems to be responsible for the cyberattack. The ransom they demanded was $70 million in Bitcoin, which is the world’s most popular cryptocurrency. The ones influenced the most in this appalling event are small businesses, and the attack has appeared to span over 17 countries, with the total scale of the attack still not being fully calculated.
If you’re not clear on this, ransomware is a type of virus that locks in people’s private data and files and keeps them encrypted until the affected party agrees to pay the ransom amount. This attributes to severe devastation, and there’s no cap on how much damage these hackers could do with such an incapacitating weapon.
How Chrome OS negates cyberattacks
Chromebooks are made read-only. You might have come across this term in Microsoft Word or somewhere similar, so you probably have an understanding of what it means. If not, a read-only file or system can only be accessed or viewed and not modified in any way. If a file has been flagged with the read-only label, it would mean that you can only open it. There would be no way for you to delete, rename, or change it.
Therefore, being read-only, Chrome OS prioritizes cloud computing and saves files in the cloud for effortless convenience. Furthermore, all files stored locally or on the cloud are protected with through-and-through encryption. The takeaway here is that ransomware cannot run an executable file, which is essentially how they get inside our private credentials. Therefore, any Play Store application or Web Store extension that you might install with concealed ransomware cannot modify Chrome OS, and that’s how this operating system hasn’t a thing to worry about.
If you’re thinking of setting up a large-format business or are already an owner of one, Chromebooks can offer you a stellar sense of security consistently and get work done on time. On the other hand, if you’re concerned about the capabilities of Chrome OS, find comfort in the fact that it can run Microsoft Office, run Microsoft Visual Studio Code that allows you to write code and do programming, install other operating systems such as Windows, run Windows apps, and even install WordPress, not to mention the flexibility and potency offered by the built-in Linux Terminal of Chrome OS.
Chromebooks have seemingly come a long way from where they first started. Google proudly boasts that no Chromebook has ever encountered a ransomware cyberattack, which truly shows how secure these devices are. If we were to give our opinion on this matter, the future of Chrome OS looks nothing but bright, and the indications of that have already started coming to light.
