What is ransomware?

Ransomware is a type of malicious software that encrypts a user’s files or blocks access to a computer system until a sum of money, the ransom, is paid. It works by infiltrating a system through various means such as email attachments, malicious links, or software vulnerabilities. Once activated, it encrypts the victim’s files, rendering them inaccessible.

Ransomware is dangerous because it can encrypt important files, causing data loss or system shutdown. It can impact individuals, businesses, and even critical infrastructure. Payment of the ransom is often demanded in cryptocurrency, which can be difficult to trace, further fueling the profitability and prevalence of ransomware attacks.