: malware that requires the victim to pay a ransom to access encrypted files
In September of 2013, security for small accounting offices changed forever with the appearance of a new class of threats called ransomware. … you open a file attached to an innocent-looking e-mail, and the program encrypts key files and drives so they cannot be accessed. The files are locked until you pay a ransom. Dave Mcclure
With ransomware, a hacker slips into a system, then puts encryption controls in place that locks users out. The hackers then demand money to "unlock" the data. Elizabeth Millard
Today's ransomware scammers often demand payment in bitcoin because the digital currency is easy to use, fast and provides a heightened anonymity for the scammers, according to the FBI warning. Susan Tompor
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebPeople may be surprised to learn that before the ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline in 2021, which shut down a big portion of fuel deliveries to the U.S. East Coast, pipeline operators weren’t required to report breaches to any authority. Stuart Madnick, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 There has been only a single public claim that named a specific person said to have died because of a ransomware attack in the U.S. Kevin Collier, NBC News, 8 Sep. 2022 The warning is timely -- one of the nation's largest school districts the Los Angeles Unified School Department fell victim to a ransomware attack over the weekend. Luke Barr, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2022 The San Francisco 49ers have acknowledged that a ransomware attack during Super Bowl week that compromised its systems affected 20,930 individuals who may be victims of identity theft, according to a government notification filed by the team. Sam Whiting, San Francisco Chronicle, 6 Sep. 2022 And a ransomware attack in December on Ultimate Kronos Group knocked offline payroll and scheduling software used by thousands of businesses, government agencies, and nonprofits. Aaron Pressman, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Aug. 2022 Here’s Lily on what happened when a ransomware attack hit JBS meat processing facilities.WIRED, 20 Aug. 2022 Take last year, when the Colonial Pipeline disruption took place due to a ransomware attack in May 2021. William Thornton | Wthornton@al.com, al, 16 Aug. 2022 Developing an incident recovery plan in the event of a ransomware attack. Charles Aunger, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2022 See More