Ransomware

Quick meaning: Ransomware is a noun meaning (computer security, derogatory) Software that is released as open source only in exchange for payment.

Meaning

(computer security, derogatory) Software that is released as open source only in exchange for payment.

More Meanings

1. (computer security) Malware that holds the data of a computer user for ransom, usually requiring or claiming to require payment to restore access.

Example Sentences

The amount of money generated by ransomware schemes would appear to be quite small given their lack of popularity and the asking price in ransom notes […]

Last March, Trenitalia, the Italian state-owned railway, suffered a major ransomware attack on its ticketing system, which disrupted sales at stations as well as passenger information screens.

Cybersecurity firm Semperis found that 86% of surveyed organizations in the United States, United Kingdom, France and Germany that faced ransomware attacks were targeted on a holiday or weekend.

Garmin has been forced to shut down its call centres, website and some other online services after a ransomware attack encrypted the smartwatch maker’s internal network and some production systems.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include cryptolocker, cryptovirus, cryptoworm, badware, riskware, hijackware.

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