You can lock down Windows and stop nearly all cybersecurity threats using VoodooShield. So what is it and how does it work?

Antivirus software typically struggles against threats it hasn't seen before, although recent changes in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud protection have helped to mitigate this. As antivirus suites improve, so do the threats we face.

Fortunately, you can give your antivirus some backup with VoodooShield. This lets you check new software against over 70 antivirus engines in the cloud or lock your PC to approve any new program that tries to run. So how does VoodooShield work? Does it replace ordinary antivirus software?

VoodooShield describes itself as a computer lock and antivirus as a filter. By default, VoodooShield toggles the lock on or off depending on whether you are at risk.

Risk is determined by the apps you have running, with browsers and email clients being the main cause of risk.

When your computer is not at risk and the lock is off, VoodooShield learns the software you use and its normal behavior to know what to whitelist when the lock is on.

When your computer is locked, any software that tries to run that isn't in the whitelist will be blocked and a prompt will appear with detailed information, giving you the option to continue blocking or allow the program.

Alternatively, you can enable AutoPilot mode. Instead of toggling the lock on or off, it always checks new programs and alerts you when any are deemed suspicious. This will offer slightly less protection than the catch-all approach of the lock, but is a great option for those who install a lot of software and don't want so many prompts. AutoPilot also checks new software regardless of risk, so it could be considered more comprehensive protection.

VoodooShield uses one of the best ways to check if a suspicious file contains malware: a service called VirusTotal, a collection of over 70 antivirus engines in the cloud. You can upload files and receive detection information such as the number of engines that detect the file and what exactly it is detected as.

If a number of these engines detect a program trying to run then it will be blocked. You will see the number of detections on the prompt to make an informed decision on whether to continue blocking or allow the program.

Along with VirusTotal, VoodooShield uses its own machine learning to detect malicious programs from indicators and behavior. To help prevent false positives, it has its own cloud whitelist of known safe files to limit the amount of system and common software picked up. This also helps to improve security as VoodooShield knows quickly if software that is trying to run is actually safe.

VoodooShield Pro is available with one-year ($30), two-year ($48), and three-year ($63) options. Lifetime licenses cost $90. These prices are reasonable, but most people won't need to change the settings that pro unlocks.

VirusTotal, machine learning, and the whitelist cloud are used to determine if software is safe. By default, the lock is toggled on and off depending on which risky apps are open.

If you don't have suspicious apps open, there aren't many vectors for infection other than removable drives like USB drives carrying malware. If you have a browser or email client open, then you will know whether you are trying to install software. If a prompt appears stating that software is attempting to install that you didn't initiate, you can assume that it is malicious and stop its installation.

The lock being on will provide the most protection when you're at risk. AutoPilot will provide less protection, but is always active and will require less user interaction.

While malicious files that slip past your antivirus will not be removed by VoodooShield, they will be prevented from running on your computer. Files that aren't running and aren't active cannot harm your system.

VoodooShield will not protect you from or remove existing malware as it is designed to prevent your computer from becoming infected in the first place. Software already installed is added to the whitelist, so your computer must be clean before you install it.

The best time to install VoodooShield is on a new computer or a new installation of Windows. If that's not possible, you should check whether your computer has malware and run scans with existing antivirus software.

VoodooShield provides no protection against phishing websites, malicious emails, or unintentionally sending infected files to others. It only prevents malicious software from running.

Most premium antivirus software includes website scanning to plug that gap. Browsers also include their own website filtering, like Google Chrome Safe Browsing and Microsoft Edge SmartScreen. The effectiveness of browser filtering is debated but improving and a good extra layer of defense.

VoodooShield is designed to work alongside your existing antivirus and should not be used as your only line of defense. For the best protection, use it with one of the best antivirus apps for Windows 11 and learn the top signs of a phishing scam to keep yourself safe.

Security issues like exploits mean that even the most cautious user can become infected without clicking anything—that's why antivirus software is so important. Becoming more informed and being able to spot scams is absolutely essential to staying safe online regardless of the security software you use.

VoodooShield is not for the faint of heart. This block-by-default approach is great on computers used for basic tasks like web browsing, shopping, and banking; or by those who don't know a lot about computers as they aren't going to install software that often. However, the prompts may be confusing for these groups of people.

They could allow malware when the prompt appears, or unintentionally block a false positive detection and cause a system crash.

VoodooShield, then, is best used by those who are comfortable setting up their computer and normal antivirus software, as well as more advanced users. Those without good computer literacy should look elsewhere and use a combination of other solutions, like security browser extensions and premium antivirus software.

Lewis is a Security Writer at MakeUseOf. He has a passion for the subject and prior experience in writing. Currently, he is completing a Computing and Business bachelor's degree, focusing on communications and networking.

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