Install CIS Keyboard to Block Ransomware

Many ransomware families include a built-in failsafe to avoid installing on Windows systems with CIS-region virtual keyboards (e.g., Russian, Ukrainian).

This exclusion helps cybercriminals avoid legal scrutiny by preventing malware from running in their own jurisdictions.

Installing a CIS language keyboard on Windows can act as a simple "vaccine" against these malware strains.

The method is not foolproof, as some ransomware variants no longer perform the language check and VM-based defenses are now less effective.

A two-line Windows batch script is available to fake a Russian keyboard registry entry without installing additional language packs.