ransomware

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

a category of malicious software that encrypts the victim's data or locks them out of their systems and demands payment of a ransom, typically in cryptocurrency, in exchange for the decryption key or restoration of access; ransomware attacks have caused billions of dollars in damages globally, disrupting hospitals, government agencies, schools, and critical infrastructure; notable ransomware incidents include the WannaCry attack of 2017 that exploited the EternalBlue NSA exploit, and the Colonial Pipeline attack of 2021 that disrupted fuel supply across the eastern United States