What is Ransomware

Ransomware is a specific type of computer malware typically in the form of a virus or trojan.  When a computer is infected with ransomware, it blocks access to your data by encrypting it.  Hackers then request a ransom and may threaten to publish or delete your data unless paid within a short time frame.  After the ransom is paid, the data is usually returned via decryption although not always.  

While not a new concept, ransomware came on strong in 2013 with CryptoLocker.  Supposedly, the creators of CryptoLocker earned around US$27 million.  With that kind of money being made, even illegally, ransomware quickly became a way to get rich.  This problem isn’t going away anytime soon.

Untraceable currency in the form of a cryptocurrency like Bitcoin has made the scheme far less risky for the perpetrators.

User-friendly website services have sprung up that allow anyone to create and distribute ransomware and even help collect the money!