Having infected a computer, cryptors encrypt valuable data, including documents, photos, game saves, databases, and so on. Once they\u2019re encrypted, the files cannot be opened, and a user cannot access them anymore. The criminals behind the attack then demand ransom in exchange for the encryption key to restore access to the files. Ransom averages about $300.<\/p>\n
Blockers are so named because they block access to the infected device, which means not only are the victim\u2019s files inaccessible, the entire system is. The ransom demand for a blocker is usually not as large as for a cryptor.<\/p>\n First, ransomware programs are both abundant and prominent. They target all operating systems, such as Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and Android, which means they can affect desktop computers and mobile devices. The majority of ransomware programs target Windows and Android.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also quite easy to get infected. Most commonly, ransomware infiltrates a computer when a user opens a malicious attachment, clicks on a suspicious link, or installs apps from third-party app stores. However, ransomware can come from legitimate websites: Lately, for example, cybercriminals have been using advertising networks<\/a> to deliver malware to users.<\/p>\n Alas, it is also pretty easy to fool lots of users into thinking they are opening or downloading something important \u2014 like a letter from a bank or a critical program installer \u2014 when instead, they are infecting their own devices with ransomware.<\/p>\n Arguably, the main issue with ransomware is that removing the malware does not solve the problem. A good antivirus program, and even some targeted utilities, can typically remove ransomware effectively. But if the malware encrypted your files, you have to decrypt them to get access back.<\/p>\n![\"What](\"https:\/\/media.kasperskydaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/102\/2016\/12\/06021056\/average-ransom-300-en-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nWhy you need to know about ransomware<\/h3>\n