What is a typical goal of ransomware?

What is a typical goal of ransomware?

• A. Steal credentials
• B. Deface a website
• C. Encrypt bandwidth
• D. Deny access to data until payment

Answer: (D)

Ransomware is designed to hold data hostage by denying access to it until a payment is made. It achieves this by encrypting files so they become unreadable, effectively locking users out of their own data. The attacker’s goal is financial gain through coercion, often accompanied by a ransom note with payment instructions and sometimes threats to leak or destroy data if the demand isn’t met (double extortion). This focus on restricting data access for payment is what makes the described option the best fit for ransomware. Other choices describe different malicious aims—stealing credentials, defacing a site, or an illogical notion like encrypting bandwidth—none of which capture the primary tactic and motive of ransomware.

Ransomware is designed to hold data hostage by denying access to it until a payment is made. It achieves this by encrypting files so they become unreadable, effectively locking users out of their own data. The attacker’s goal is financial gain through coercion, often accompanied by a ransom note with payment instructions and sometimes threats to leak or destroy data if the demand isn’t met (double extortion). This focus on restricting data access for payment is what makes the described option the best fit for ransomware. Other choices describe different malicious aims—stealing credentials, defacing a site, or an illogical notion like encrypting bandwidth—none of which capture the primary tactic and motive of ransomware.