UNLIKE a typical cyber threat like a random virus, ransomware is a variety of crypto virological malicious software, or malware, that allows bad actors to participate in a form of digital extortion. Ransomware essentially encrypts files and makes it inaccessible, holding it hostage until the namesake ransom is paid—usually in cash, but sometimes in another form like cryptocurrency. A traditional cyber threat may merely wreak havoc on its user's device, but ransomware is designed to monetize the damage it inflicts.
