ransomware

Noun

Meaning

(computer security) Malware that holds the data of a computer user for ransom, usually requiring or claiming to require payment to restore access.
Hypernym: malware
Hyponyms: cryptolocker, cryptovirus

(computer security, derogatory) Software that is released as open source only in exchange for payment.

Synonyms

Examples

“Advanced adversaries like the operators behind the Maze ransomware don’t just encrypt files, they steal data for possible exposure or extortion purposes. Source: Internet

Already the ransomware industry generates an estimated profit of billions of dollars per year. Source: Internet

And we’ve seen that before, we mentioned the three pieces of ransomware we’d seen in the past, FindZip was one of them, and it was kind of a failure to start with, there was no way for people to get their files decrypted from the malware author. Source: Internet

A researcher at security firm Kaspersky reports that someone is pushing a corrupted version of the game on a fake Google Play website that infects victims with ransomware. Source: Internet

As the world adjusts to the work-from-home culture, companies and businesses are facing a new challenge in the form of cyber attacks and ransomware. Source: Internet

At the end of October, the ransomware had been used to target US hospitals and healthcare providers. Source: Internet

Close letter words and terms