ransomware
noun
ran·som·ware
ˈran(t)-səm-ˌwer 
: malware that requires the victim to pay a ransom to access encrypted files
In September of 2013, security for small accounting offices changed forever with the appearance of a new class of threats called ransomware. … you open a file attached to an innocent-looking e-mail, and the program encrypts key files and drives so they cannot be accessed. The files are locked until you pay a ransom.—
Dave Mcclure
Dave McclureWith ransomware, a hacker slips into a system, then puts encryption controls in place that locks users out. The hackers then demand money to "unlock" the data.—Elizabeth Millard
Elizabeth MillardToday's ransomware scammers often demand payment in bitcoin because the digital currency is easy to use, fast and provides a heightened anonymity for the scammers, according to the FBI warning.—Susan Tompor
Susan TomporExamples of ransomware in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This comes after one leading ransomware group, LockBit, was itself hacked.
—Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2025
UnitedHealth Group is also contending with the fallout from a February 2024 ransomware attack on Change Healthcare, a subsidiary that processes a significant portion of the country’s medical claims.
—Annika Kim Constantino,ashley Capoot, CNBC, 22 May 2025
Now an indictment of a group of Russian nationals and the takedown of their sprawling botnet offers the clearest example in years of how a single malware operation allegedly enabled hacking operations as varied as ransomware, wartime cyberattacks in Ukraine, and spying against foreign governments.
—Andy Greenberg, Wired News, 22 May 2025
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Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2025
UnitedHealth Group is also contending with the fallout from a February 2024 ransomware attack on Change Healthcare, a subsidiary that processes a significant portion of the country’s medical claims.
—Annika Kim Constantino,ashley Capoot, CNBC, 22 May 2025
Now an indictment of a group of Russian nationals and the takedown of their sprawling botnet offers the clearest example in years of how a single malware operation allegedly enabled hacking operations as varied as ransomware, wartime cyberattacks in Ukraine, and spying against foreign governments.
—Andy Greenberg, Wired News, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ransomware
Cite this Entry
“Ransomware.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ransomware. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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