Can ransomware infect Google Drive?

Yes, ransomware can potentially affect files stored on cloud storage platforms such as Google Drive, but not in the same way it would infect local files on your hard drive.

Here's how it works: If your computer becomes infected with ransomware, and you have synced files from your local system to your Google Drive, the encrypted files could potentially be synced to the cloud, replacing the healthy files. This means that the ransomware does not directly infect Google Drive but affects the cloud-stored files through the local computer's sync functionality.

However, it's important to note that Google Drive has certain protective features to help you recover from such situations. For example, Google Drive keeps past versions of files for up to 30 days (or up to 100 revisions), allowing users to roll back to previous, unencrypted versions of their files.While these protections can be helpful, it is always better to prevent ransomware infections in the first place. Regular backups, keeping software up-to-date, using strong, unique passwords, and being wary of suspicious emails and websites are all part of a robust cybersecurity strategy.

It's also worth noting that while Google Drive can offer some protection, not all cloud services have the same versioning or backup features, so it's important to familiarize yourself with the specifics of any service you use.