How is Ransomware used to extract money from users?
Ransomware is a type of malware that targets user data to extract money from victims. It works by either blocking the user from accessing their own data or threatening to publish their personal data online.
After compromising the user's data, the ransomware demands a ransom payment from the victim to restore access or prevent data publication. Some ransomware simply blocks access to data, while others encrypt the data, making it very difficult for users to access their own files without paying the ransom.
For example, the WannaCry ransomware that infected almost 200,000 computers across 150 countries in May 2017 encrypted data and demanded ransom payments in Bitcoin cryptocurrency from its victims.
Explanation
The answer is based on section 12.2.3 of the textbook which explains ransomware. Key points covered: (1) Ransomware targets user data, (2) Two methods - blocking access or threatening to publish data, (3) Some encrypt data making it difficult to access, (4) Demands ransom payment, (5) Real-world example of WannaCry using Bitcoin cryptocurrency for ransom. The answer follows the 2-mark format with 3 paragraphs and bold key terms.