International Journal of Science, Engineering and TechnologyAuthors: Promise Enyindah, Daniel Okon
Abstract: Among notable threat within rising digital risks is ransomware, known for deep consequences – yearly monetary damages climb into multiple billions, alongside disruptions felt by critical operations such as healthcare systems, financial institutions, and government bodies. Since older methods based on fixed signatures prove ineffective against evolving code structures, modern approaches shift attention toward real-time conduct of harmful software after activation. Behavior seen during runtime provides clearer indicators compared to unchanging markers. With adaptive malware variants and widely available hacking resources increasing complexity, different defensive paths emerge as vital. A potential direction focuses on teaching models to identify faint signals of malicious behavior. Research indicates some sophisticated architectures spot ransomware accurately in over 99 out of every 100 trials. Among them are networks modeled after biological vision, those designed to follow temporal patterns, together with hybrid approaches merging several strategies. Despite lingering obstacles, advancement in automatic detection moves forward at a consistent pace. From observed behaviors – alterations in saved files, active system operations, internet-based data movements – to encryption patterns, distinctions emerge between malicious software and standard applications. These indicators form the basis for analysis within openly available datasets, while challenges such as false signals or evasion tactics adopted by adversaries are considered alongside them. Practical constraints influencing real-world deployment weave into each point made across the review. Future directions surface through interpretable artificial intelligence systems, adaptive defense frameworks, collaboration enriched by live threat intelligence feeds. Insight gained from this exploration aids progress toward more effective defenses targeting harmful file-locking behavior.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18918647
