ransomware

[ran-suhm-wair]

noun

Digital Technology.

1. malware planted illegally in a computer or mobile device that disables its operation or access to its data until the owner or operator pays to regain control or access.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ransomware¹

First recorded in 2005–10; ransom ( def. ) + -ware ( def. )

Example Sentences

A data theft and extortion attack is far easier to recover from, for example, than a ransomware attack which scrambles a victim's computer network.

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Maintenance and construction contractor Dodd Group confirmed it suffered a ransomware incident and it was taking the claims "extremely seriously".

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Personal data may have been stolen in the ransomware attack that forced Asahi to halt beer production, the company has said.

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The vast majority of attacks are financially motivated with criminal gangs using ransomware or data extortion to blackmail a victim into sending Bitcoins in ransom.

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Travellers were delayed at a number of European airports in September after a ransomware attack disrupted check-in and boarding software.

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