Ransomware continues to be a growing cyber threat, capable of crippling businesses and disrupting personal lives. Losing access to vital files — from cherished family photos to financial records — can have devastating consequences. To tackle this, Google is introducing an AI-powered ransomware detection system for Drive for Desktop, designed to identify threats early and prevent large-scale data loss.
According to Google’s blog post, this new security layer for macOS and Windows continuously monitors for abnormal behavior, such as mass file encryption or corruption — common indicators of a ransomware attack. Unlike traditional antivirus tools that scan for malicious code, Google’s AI model focuses on how files change. When it detects unusual activity, even across a few files, it immediately halts syncing between the user’s device and the cloud. This pause prevents infected files from overwriting safe versions in Google Drive.
Once potential ransomware activity is detected, users receive desktop and email alerts and can access a new recovery interface within Drive. This interface allows them to restore their files to a clean, pre-attack state.
Ransomware remains a significant cybersecurity issue. In 2024, Mandiant reported that ransomware accounted for 21% of all intrusions, with an average cost per incident exceeding $5 million. Critical industries such as healthcare, education, retail, manufacturing, and government are particularly at risk. Google’s approach focuses on a crucial middle ground — between traditional antivirus prevention and post-attack recovery — where AI-driven early intervention can make a major difference.
Google emphasizes that this feature isn’t meant to replace antivirus or endpoint detection tools but to act as an additional safeguard. The system prioritizes commonly targeted file types like Office documents and PDFs, while native Google Docs and Sheets already benefit from built-in protection. Importantly, Google notes that it does not collect user data to train its AI models without explicit consent.
The AI ransomware detection feature is currently rolling out in open beta and will be available at no extra cost for most Google Workspace commercial customers. Individual users will also have access to file recovery tools for free. However, there’s no confirmation yet on whether similar protections will extend to Google Cloud Storage for enterprise users.
