Ransomware is malware that encrypts your files or stops you from using your computer until you pay money (a ransom) for them to be unlocked. If your computer is connected to a network the ransomware may also spread to other computers or storage devices on the network.
Some of the ways you can get infected by ransomware include:
- Visiting unsafe, suspicious, or fake websites.
- Opening file attachments that you weren’t expecting or from people you don’t know.
- Opening malicious or bad links in emails, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media posts, or in instant messenger or SMS chats.
You can often recognize a fake email and webpage because they have bad spelling, or just look unusual. Look out for strange spellings of company names (like "PayePal" instead of "PayPal") or unusual spaces, symbols, or punctuation (like "iTunesCustomer Service" instead of "iTunes Customer Service").
Ransomware can target any PC, whether it’s a home computer, PCs on an enterprise network, or servers used by a government agency.
Caution: Mobile devices can get ransomware too!