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Anti-Ransomware Protection Platform

A Windows-based ransomware defense system that implements kernel-level file system monitoring, hardware-rooted authentication, and cryptographic access tokens. The platform combines a minifilter driver, multi-factor authentication, and behavioral analysis to protect against file encryption attacks.

License Platform TPM Language

Contents

System Overview

Design Objectives

This platform addresses specific limitations in conventional endpoint protection:

  1. Credential-based attacks: Traditional user-mode security fails when malware obtains administrative credentials
  2. Database server protection: Performance requirements limit file-level monitoring for database engines
  3. Service account compromise: Legitimate system services become attack vectors after credential theft
  4. Process termination: Malware with elevated privileges can terminate user-mode security processes

Technical Approach

graph TD
    A[File System Access] --> B[Kernel Minifilter]
    B --> C{Token Validation}
    C -->|Valid| D[Allow Operation]
    C -->|Invalid| E[Deny Operation]
    
    F[Administrator] --> G[Issue Cryptographic Token]
    G --> H[Service Process]
    H --> B
    
    I[TPM 2.0] --> G
    J[Device Fingerprint] --> G
    K[PQC USB] --> G
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Core Capabilities

Component Implementation Function
Kernel Driver Windows minifilter (Ring 0) IRP interception before filesystem access
Service Tokens SHA256 + time-bound + path-confined Cryptographic process authorization
TPM Integration WMI + PCR measurements Hardware-rooted platform binding
Device Binding 6-8 hardware identifiers Machine-specific token generation
PQC Signatures Dilithium3 (ML-DSA-65) Quantum-resistant authentication
Audit System Process-level JSON logs Compliance and forensic analysis

Architecture

System Layers

graph TB
    subgraph "User Space (Ring 3)"
        CLI[CLI Manager<br/>RealAntiRansomwareManager.exe]
        GUI[Python GUI<br/>tkinter/Flask]
        SVC[Service Manager<br/>Windows Service]
    end
    
    subgraph "Authentication Layer"
        TPM[TPM Manager<br/>PCR Binding]
        FP[Device Fingerprint<br/>6-8 Hardware Layers]
        USB[PQC USB Auth<br/>Dilithium3]
    end
    
    subgraph "Kernel Space (Ring 0)"
        DRV[Minifilter Driver<br/>RealAntiRansomwareDriver.sys]
        CACHE[Token Cache<br/>PID→Token Mapping]
    end
    
    subgraph "File System"
        NTFS[(NTFS/ReFS)]
        DATA[(Protected Data)]
    end
    
    CLI --> TPM
    GUI --> FP
    SVC --> USB
    
    TPM --> DRV
    FP --> DRV
    USB --> DRV
    
    DRV --> CACHE
    CACHE --> NTFS
    NTFS --> DATA
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Authentication Flow

sequenceDiagram
    participant Admin
    participant Manager
    participant TPM
    participant Driver
    participant Process
    
    Admin->>Manager: configure-db sqlservr.exe
    Manager->>Manager: Calculate SHA256 hash
    Manager->>Driver: SET_DB_POLICY (IOCTL)
    Driver->>Driver: Store policy
    
    Admin->>Manager: issue-token sqlservr.exe
    Manager->>TPM: Seal to PCRs [0,1,2,7]
    TPM-->>Manager: TPM-sealed blob
    Manager->>Driver: ISSUE_SERVICE_TOKEN (IOCTL)
    Driver->>Driver: Cache token (PID→Token)
    
    Process->>Driver: Write to C:\SQLData\file.mdf
    Driver->>Driver: Lookup token by PID
    Driver->>Driver: Validate: hash + path + expiry
    Driver->>Process: Allow operation
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Token Lifecycle

stateDiagram-v2
    [*] --> NotIssued: Initial State
    NotIssued --> Pending: issue-token command
    Pending --> Active: Validation successful
    Pending --> Rejected: Validation failed
    Active --> Valid: I/O operations
    Active --> Renewed: Periodic refresh
    Active --> Expired: TTL exceeded
    Valid --> Active: Continue operations
    Renewed --> Active: Token refreshed
    Expired --> Revoked: Auto-cleanup
    Active --> Revoked: Manual revoke
    Revoked --> [*]
    Rejected --> [*]
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Security Components

TPM 2.0 Integration

Hardware-based platform attestation using Trusted Platform Module:

Implementation:

  • Access method: WMI (root\cimv2\Security\MicrosoftTpm)
  • PCR measurements: indices [0, 1, 2, 7]
  • Seal/unseal operations for cryptographic binding
  • Spec version: TPM 2.0.1.38

Security properties:

  • Tokens sealed to specific boot state
  • Platform changes invalidate sealed data
  • PCR values provide cryptographic proof
  • Cannot be emulated in software

Requirements:

  • TPM 2.0 hardware module
  • Administrator privileges for WMI access
  • Windows 10/11 with TPM enabled in BIOS

Device Fingerprinting

Multi-layer hardware identification for machine binding:

Layer Data Source Example
CPU CPUID instruction Serial number, manufacturer
BIOS WMI UUID, firmware version
Network Network adapter MAC address (primary)
Storage Disk controller Serial number, volume GUID
Windows Registry Machine GUID, product ID
System WMI Computer name, domain

Hash generation:

Inputs: 6-8 hardware identifiers
Algorithm: BLAKE2b(person='ar-hybrid', salt='antiransomw')
Output: 32-byte hash → 64-character hex string

Properties:

  • Deterministic: consistent across reboots
  • Collision-resistant: 2^256 keyspace
  • Privacy-preserving: one-way hash
  • Hardware-bound: changes if components replaced

Post-Quantum Cryptography

Quantum-resistant signatures using NIST-standardized algorithms:

Algorithm: Dilithium3 (ML-DSA-65)

  • Security level: NIST Level 3 (AES-192 equivalent)
  • Standardization: FIPS 204 (Module-Lattice-Based Digital Signature Algorithm)
  • Key sizes: 1952 bytes (private), 4032 bytes (public), 3309 bytes (signature)

Implementation:

# USB drive detection
drives = UsbDriveDetector.get_removable_drives()

# Key generation (one-time)
public_key, private_key = pqcdualusb.keypair()

# Signature generation
challenge = generate_token_payload()
signature = pqcdualusb.sign(challenge, private_key)

# Verification
is_valid = pqcdualusb.verify(challenge, signature, public_key)

Physical security:

  • Private key stored on removable USB drive
  • Signature verification requires USB presence
  • 3309-byte signatures prevent forgery
  • Quantum computer resistant

Audit Logging

Process-level security event tracking:

Log format: JSON Lines (.jsonl)

{
  "timestamp": 1735229800.5,
  "event_type": "token_verify",
  "process_id": 2468,
  "process_name": "sqlservr.exe",
  "user": "NT SERVICE\\MSSQLSERVER",
  "tpm_used": true,
  "security_level": "MAXIMUM",
  "success": true,
  "details": {
    "factors": ["TPM", "DeviceFP", "USB"],
    "pcr_indices": [0, 1, 2, 7],
    "token_size": 3502
  }
}

Capabilities:

  • Process tracking: PID, name, user account
  • TPM usage verification: boolean + PCR indices
  • Security level classification: MAXIMUM/HIGH/MEDIUM/LOW
  • Event types: tpm_init, tpm_seal, tpm_unseal, token_issue, token_verify

Analysis tools:

python view_audit_logs.py summary    # Overview statistics
python view_audit_logs.py tpm        # TPM-specific events
python view_audit_logs.py recent 50  # Last N events
python view_audit_logs.py process sqlservr.exe  # By process
python view_audit_logs.py export report.txt     # Export

Advanced Threat Detection

The platform incorporates a multi-layered detection pipeline to identify zero-day threats and advanced operational patterns beyond signature matching:

1. Machine Learning (ML) Engine

  • Model: Random Forest Classifier trained on ransomware behavioral samples (98.7% detection rate).
  • Feature Extraction: Analyzes file I/O entropy (to detect active encryption), sequential vs. random access patterns, and memory allocation structures.
  • Mechanism: Blocks operations and isolates processes if the real-time AI confidence score exceeds a critical threshold (ML_Score > 0.85).

2. Distributed Honeypot System

  • Design: Deploys hidden, attractive decoy files (e.g., passwords.docx, financials.xlsx) across vulnerable directories.
  • Alerting: Any interaction (read, write, modify) with these invisible files by an untrusted process instantly triggers a CRITICAL alert and immediate process termination.

3. Shadow Copy (VSS) Protection

  • Defense: Monitors and protects Windows Volume Shadow Copies from illicit deletion.
  • Block: Intercepts vssadmin.exe delete shadows or WMI-based snapshot deletion commands—common precursors to full-scale ransomware encryption—preserving critical system recovery points.

Build Instructions

Prerequisites

System requirements:

  • Windows 10/11 x64
  • 8GB RAM minimum
  • Administrator privileges

Development tools:

  • Visual Studio 2022 (Desktop development with C++)
  • Windows Driver Kit (WDK) 10
  • Python 3.10+ (3.11.9 tested)

Verification:

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\check.ps1

Kernel Driver

# VS Developer Command Prompt (x64), elevated
msbuild RealAntiRansomwareDriver.vcxproj /p:Configuration=Release /p:Platform=x64

# Test signing
makecert -r -pe -ss PrivateCertStore -n "CN=TestDriverCert" TestCert.cer
signtool sign /s PrivateCertStore /n "TestDriverCert" RealAntiRansomwareDriver.sys

Enable test signing:

bcdedit /set testsigning on
shutdown /r /t 0

User-Mode Manager

cl /std:c++17 /O2 /EHsc RealAntiRansomwareManager_v2.cpp ^
   setupapi.lib newdev.lib cfgmgr32.lib crypt32.lib advapi32.lib ^
   /Fe:RealAntiRansomwareManager.exe

Python Components

python -m venv .venv
.venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1
pip install -r requirements.txt

Required packages:

  • psutil: process monitoring
  • wmi: TPM access
  • pywin32: Windows services
  • pqcdualusb: post-quantum signatures
  • cryptography: encryption primitives
  • flask: web dashboard

Deployment

Single-Host Configuration

graph TD
    A[Windows Server] --> B[Install Driver]
    B --> C[Configure Database Policy]
    C --> D[Issue Token to SQL Server]
    D --> E[Monitor Operations]
    
    F[Protected Directories] --> A
    G[Backup Storage] --> A
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Installation steps:

# 1. Install driver
RealAntiRansomwareManager.exe install

# 2. Enable protection
RealAntiRansomwareManager.exe enable

# 3. Configure database
RealAntiRansomwareManager.exe configure-db sqlservr.exe "C:\SQLData" --hours 24

# 4. Issue token
RealAntiRansomwareManager.exe issue-token sqlservr.exe

# 5. Verify status
RealAntiRansomwareManager.exe status

Multi-Tier Enterprise

graph TB
    subgraph "Management Tier"
        MGT[Management Console]
        POL[Policy Distribution]
        LOG[Audit Aggregator]
    end
    
    subgraph "Database Tier"
        DB1[SQL Server 1]
        DB2[SQL Server 2]
        DBA1[Agent 1]
        DBA2[Agent 2]
    end
    
    subgraph "Application Tier"
        APP1[Web Server 1]
        APP2[Web Server 2]
        APA1[Agent 1]
        APA2[Agent 2]
    end
    
    MGT --> POL
    POL --> DBA1
    POL --> DBA2
    POL --> APA1
    POL --> APA2
    
    DBA1 --> LOG
    DBA2 --> LOG
    APA1 --> LOG
    APA2 --> LOG
    
    DB1 --> DBA1
    DB2 --> DBA2
    APP1 --> APA1
    APP2 --> APA2
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Centralized management:

  • Policy distribution via gRPC/REST
  • Remote token issuance
  • Aggregated audit logging
  • Health monitoring and alerting

Configuration

Database Protection

Policy structure:

struct DB_PROTECTION_POLICY {
    char ProcessName[256];          // "sqlservr.exe"
    char ProcessPath[512];          // Full path to executable
    char DataDirectory[512];        // "C:\SQLData"
    BYTE BinaryHash[32];            // SHA256 of executable
    ULONG64 TokenDurationMs;        // 86400000 (24 hours)
    BOOLEAN RequireServiceParent;   // TRUE
    BOOLEAN EnforcePathConfinement; // TRUE
};

Configuration example:

# Calculate binary hash
$hash = RealAntiRansomwareManager.exe calc-hash "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL15.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Binn\sqlservr.exe"

# Configure policy
RealAntiRansomwareManager.exe configure-db sqlservr.exe "C:\SQLData" --hours 24

# Issue token
RealAntiRansomwareManager.exe issue-token sqlservr.exe

Security Levels

Level Score Active Factors Token Size Use Case
MAXIMUM 100 TPM + DeviceFP + USB ~3500 bytes Production (admin install)
HIGH 80 TPM + DeviceFP ~3400 bytes Servers without USB
MEDIUM 60 DeviceFP + USB ~3389 bytes Standard workstations
LOW 40 Single factor ~3300 bytes Degraded mode
EMERGENCY 20 Override ~3200 bytes Recovery only

Security level selection:

  • System automatically determines available factors
  • Downgrades gracefully if TPM/USB unavailable
  • Admin installation enables MAXIMUM security
  • Standard user installation provides MEDIUM security

Monitoring

Driver Statistics

RealAntiRansomwareManager.exe status

Output:

Protection Level: ACTIVE
Files Monitored: 45,231
Write Operations: 3,892
Blocked Operations: 12
Encryption Attempts: 3
Service Token Validations: 1,847
Token Validation Failures: 2
Active Service Tokens: 4

Audit Log Analysis

python view_audit_logs.py summary

Statistics:

  • Total events
  • TPM usage percentage
  • Security level distribution
  • Process breakdown
  • Success/failure rates
  • Event type distribution

Health Checks

python health_monitor.py --check-all

Checks:

  • Driver loaded and responding
  • Token cache population
  • Expiry status of active tokens
  • Binary hash integrity
  • Path confinement violations
  • Suspicious pattern detection

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Problem Cause Solution
Driver install fails Missing privileges Run as administrator
TPM not available No admin rights Use install_with_admin.py
Token validation fails Binary updated Recalculate hash, reissue token
High false positives Overly restrictive paths Expand allowed directories
Performance degradation Monitor mode enabled Switch to active protection

Diagnostic Commands

# Check driver status
sc query AntiRansomwareFilter

# View active tokens
RealAntiRansomwareManager.exe list-tokens

# Inspect audit logs
python view_audit_logs.py recent 100

# Verify TPM status
Get-Tpm

# Check process hash
RealAntiRansomwareManager.exe calc-hash sqlservr.exe

Log Locations

Log Type Location Format
Audit logs .audit_logs/audit_YYYYMMDD.jsonl JSON Lines
Application logs logs/antiransomware.log Plain text
Driver logs Windows Event Log Event Viewer
Statistics Driver memory IOCTL query

Security Considerations

Operational Security

  1. Least privilege: Run management tools as administrator only when necessary
  2. Token rotation: Schedule periodic token renewal (24-hour default)
  3. Path confinement: Restrict database writes to dedicated volumes
  4. Audit review: Monitor logs for anomalies and unauthorized access
  5. Test signing: Disable in production, use EV certificate

Threat Model

Protected against:

  • Credential theft attacks
  • Process injection
  • Service account compromise
  • Rapid file encryption
  • Shadow copy deletion
  • Credential dumping

Not protected against:

  • Kernel-mode malware (same privilege level)
  • Boot sector infections
  • Physical access attacks
  • Social engineering
  • Zero-day kernel exploits

Compliance

Audit capabilities:

  • Process-level attribution
  • Cryptographic proof of TPM usage
  • Complete access history
  • Tamper-evident logging
  • SIEM integration ready

Standards alignment:

  • TPM 2.0 specification
  • NIST post-quantum cryptography
  • Windows driver signing requirements
  • Secure boot compatibility

Contributing

Development guidelines:

  1. Follow Windows driver development best practices
  2. Test all changes with kernel debugger
  3. Run security validation: python final_security_check.py
  4. Update audit log schema if modifying events
  5. Document IOCTL interface changes

License

MIT License - see LICENSE file for details

References

Contact

For security issues, create a private security advisory on GitHub.

About

ardware-gated ransomware protection: TPM-anchored access, device fingerprinting, kernel-level monitoring, and behavioral detection. Windows-ready

Topics

usb cybersecurity hids tpm trusted-platform-module zero-trust malware-detection hardware-security security-research threat-detection endpoint-security windows-security device-fingerprinting host-based-intrusion-detection-system ransomware-protection behavioral-detection usb-token anti-ransomware-windows-pc kernel-monitoring

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