from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
noun computingMalware that holds the data of a computer user for ransom.
noun computingSoftware that is released as open source only in exchange for payment.
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
ransom + -ware
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Examples
They were victims of a Trojan horse virus called ransomware, which kidnaps documents and encrypts them, meaning users can no longer access their files unless they pay the demand by credit card.
They were victims of a Trojan horse virus called ransomware, which kidnaps documents and encrypts them, meaning users can no longer access their files unless they pay the demand by credit card.
According to Computerworld, this type of scam is a new one in the world of "ransomware" - the practice of holding hostage a computer system or the data it contains, and then extorting money from its rightful owner.
According to Computerworld, this type of scam is a new one in the world of "ransomware" - the practice of holding hostage a computer system or the data it contains, and then extorting money from its rightful owner.
Furthermore, these syndicates employing rogue anti-malware programs have turned from mining personal financial data with these crimeware programs to an extortion model whereby the attackers demand ransom for unlocking a PC that has been infected with so-called ransomware code masquerading as anti-virus software.
Some of them have recently started to adopt a more aggressive approach, known as ransomware, where they block critical system functionality until a license fee is paid.
The onset of cloud, social media and virtualization technologies will lead the cybercriminals to adopt new methods such as ransomware and crime as a service, is going to threaten the enterprise at large.
A new piece of "ransomware", a piece of malware that is actually acting like a legitimate program, has cropped up and is now demanding $400 from users that is says are violating copyright laws.
The horrors of ransomware – where cybercriminals break in, lock up computer data, then demand payments to restore access – have increasingly hobbled cities and municipalities across the globe in recent years.
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