what is ransom

Ransom is the practice of holding a prisoner or item to extort money or property to secure their release, or the sum of money involved in such a practice. It can also refer to the money or other consideration paid to or demanded by someone in exchange for the release of a kidnapped person or stolen property. Ransomware is a type of malware designed to deny a user or organization access to files on their computer by encrypting these files and demanding a ransom payment for the decryption key. The term "ransom" comes from the Old French word "rançon" and the Latin word "redemptio," meaning "buying back" or "payment". In some instances, a ransom note may be used to convey the demands of the kidnappers, and it can be used as forensic evidence to discover the identities of unknown kidnappers or to convict them at trial.