In this article: ransomware meaning; types of ransomware; ransomware examples; protection against ransomware. Ransomware meaning: What is ransomware? Ransom malware, or ransomware, is a type of malware that prevents users from accessing their system or personal files and demands ransom payment in order to regain access. While some people might think ‘a virus locked my computer’, ransomware would typically be classified as a different form of malware than a virus. The earliest variants of ransomware were developed in the late 1980s, and payment was to be sent via snail mail. Today...