ransomware

noun

ran·​som·​ware ˈran(t)-səm-ˌwer How to pronounce ransomware (audio)
: 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
With 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
Today'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

Examples of ransomware in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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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 See All Example Sentences for ransomware

Word History

First Known Use

2005, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ransomware was in 2005

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Cite this Entry

“Ransomware.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ransomware. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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