What are the main types of ransomware attacks?
Like a thief walking around a parking lot checking for a conveniently unlocked car, cybercriminals are always looking for vulnerabilities. Over the years, many different types of ransomware attacks have popped up, each with its own execution plan.
Generally speaking, the most common types of ransomware include:
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Crypto ransomware: Infamous and devastating, this strain encrypts data and will only decrypt it if you pay the ransom. If you don’t pay, you lose your data forever.
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Double extortion ransomware: Particularly nasty cybercriminals will lock your data, steal it, and threaten to leak it if you don’t pay up.
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Encryptionless ransomware: Some ransomware actors have decided to go straight to stealing data and extorting victims to pay to avoid its release to the internet.
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Locker ransomware: This strain locks victims out of their systems, making them totally inaccessible until the ransom is paid, leaving you helpless.
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Scareware: Especially devious, fake software claiming to be your “knight in shining armor” against a phony virus pressures you to pay for a bogus “fix.”
Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS): Like legitimate subscription models, cybercriminals rent ransomware tools from developers to help amateur hackers get their kicks.