ransomware
n.n. a type of harmful computer program that locks your files or computer. The people behind it demand money from you before they will let you access your data again.
n. malicious software designed to block access to a computer system or data until a sum of money is paid. Often involves the encryption of files by a remote attacker.
The hospital had to pay a fee to remove the ransomware.
After the ransomware attack, the company's IT department spent weeks restoring data from offline backups to avoid paying the hackers.
The rise of untraceable cryptocurrencies has facilitated a global surge in ransomware, as attackers can now extort large corporations with a significantly lower risk of being caught by international authorities.
A portmanteau of ransom and software, following the established pattern of naming malicious programs by their function or delivery method.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated July 22, 2026