ransomwareä

Ransomwareä is a term used to describe ransomware—malicious software that restricts access to data or devices and demands payment to restore it. In its typical form, attackers encrypt files on infected devices and leave a ransom note with payment instructions, often demanding cryptocurrency. Some variants also exfiltrate data or threaten to disclose it publicly as leverage. The term is used to emphasize regional or linguistic variations in how the threat is discussed.

Attack vectors include phishing emails with malicious attachments, exploit kits, unsecured remote services, and supply-chain compromises. Once inside, ransomware can spread laterally, encrypting files and rendering systems unusable. In some campaigns, attackers also exfiltrate data and threaten public disclosure, a strategy known as double extortion. The impact ranges from operational disruption to financial losses and regulatory concerns, especially in healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure.

Prevention focuses on backups, segmentation, and patching; user education; MFA; email and endpoint protection; disable macros; and incident response planning. Recovery often depends on having clean offline backups and, if available, decryptors from security researchers. Paying the ransom is generally discouraged by authorities, as it does not guarantee restoration and may encourage further crime. The history of ransomware includes early strains from the 1980s and notable outbreaks such as CryptoLocker and WannaCry, with ongoing evolution toward greater profitability via double extortion and RaaS (ransomware as a service).