Ransomware
In short
Malicious software that locks a user's files or steals private data to demand a payment for its release. Attackers often use cryptocurrency to make the ransom untraceable.
In plain words
It is a digital kidnapping. A hacker breaks into your computer, scrambles your files so you cannot open them, and tells you to pay money to get them back.
A simple example
A hospital worker clicks a bad link in an email. Suddenly, all patient records are locked, and a message appears on the screen demanding £50,000 in Bitcoin to unlock them.
Why it matters
It can shut down essential services like hospitals, banks, and power grids. Even if the ransom is paid, there is no guarantee the criminals will actually return the data.
Easy to mix up
Do not confuse it with phishing, which is the trick used to steal passwords rather than the software that locks files.