Image: Wikimedia Commons

ransomware

Program that locks files until a sum of money is paid

Also known as ransom software · denial-of-access attack

Instance of: computer science term
Subclass of: cyberattack
, cybercrime
, malware
+3 more

Overview

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · Read full article · Text CC BY-SA 4.0

Ransomware is a type of malware that takes the private data of a victim hostage until a ransom is paid. This can involve encryption of the data, and/or exfiltration with the threat of publicly releasing the data. Ransom is typically requested to be paid via cryptocurrency or stored-value cards since these are harder to trace; making the crime more difficult to prosecute. Sometimes the original files can be retrieved without paying the ransom due to implementation mistakes, leaked cryptographic keys or a complete lack of encryption in the ransomware.

Overview

All data

29 statements · 21% with external sources · numbers in brackets are citations

Named after: ransom
Different from: computer virus
Studied by: cryptovirology
Handled, mitigated, or managed by: anti-malware
Has effect: extortion

On other databases

18 identifiers linking ransomware across the web's reference databases

Data quality

statements

21%

externally sourced

Source last edited September 6, 2026. AIDB refreshes this page daily.

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AIDB. (2026). ransomware (Q926331). Retrieved from https://aidb.si/e/ransomware-Q926331