What is extortionware? How is it different from Ransomware?

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But you may be more familiar with ransomware. Extortionware and ransomware are related but different. However, both are something you need to be wary of. The following article will explain what extortionware is, how extortionware differs from ransomware, and how you can protect yourself from extortionware.

What is extortionware?

Extortionware is simply malware used to blackmail victims. This software usually involves the theft of sensitive data, followed by some type of threat, usually the release of the stolen sensitive data.

Suppose cybercriminals steal information from a company and then threaten to use that information if they are not paid a certain amount of money. This threat could be making that data public or selling it to a competitor. Competitors can do a lot with details about new intellectual property or customer lists. The business must then determine whether the requested fee outweighs the cost of loss if private data is shared.

One hidden cost is customer trust. If personal information becomes public, people may question whether their data is safe in the hands of that company. This can also lead to attacks such as phishing due to poor security.

Note : Extortionware is malware used to blackmail victims; it is not extortion per se.

Similar problems happen to ordinary people. Stolen personal information can be used for blackmail; Cheat.

Example of Extortionware

Extortionware is not as well known as ransomware, but ransomware is sometimes included in this general term. Likewise, sextortion, which is the use of unsafe photos, videos and messages for control. Could be cash or more adult content.

Doxing (also called "doxxing") is a classic example of cyberextortion. It involves publishing personal information and violating people's privacy. Software used in Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks can also be classified as extortionware, which takes a website or service offline until a ransom or demand is met.

So, where can you see extortionware in action? Perhaps the most high-profile case is the leak of information from Ashley Madison, an online dating service that primarily facilitates extramarital relationships. In 2015, the site suffered a serious data breach, when hackers stole the personal information of site users. Hackers published the stolen data in two batches, including names, email addresses, banking information, etc., leading to a significant increase in online extortion attempts against previous users. Here from Ashley Madison.

What is extortionware? How is it different from Ransomware? Picture 1

Differences and similarities between extortionware and ransomware

Extortionware and ransomware are different, but the two have some areas of overlap.

The main similarity is that both are used to exert some form of control over the victim. That way, any malware used as ransomware can be considered extortionware, as it leads to threat and demand. With ransomware, the demand can be anything (though often financial and paid through untraceable cryptocurrency), but the threat usually involves no longer having access to the system.

The pair can also be combined - as in double extortion ransomware, which steals data and encrypts the system but then makes two demands: One that the data be unlocked and one that it not be made public .

And that's the real difference: Ransomware typically involves locking down the system, making it unreadable without the correct decryption key. On the other hand, ransomware does not necessarily mean encrypted data. Instead, any stolen data can be used by hackers.

For example, sextortion is not ransomware, even though ransom is involved. It is blackmail because the perpetrator wants something more from the victim and uses NSFW material to coerce them further.

How to protect yourself from Extortionware

Luckily, many of the methods you can use to fight ransomware can also protect you from extortionware by taking some basic security measures.

Always check that your password is strong enough and make sure services store login information securely. Businesses are more likely to be targeted by extortionware than individuals.

However, you should still be wary of phishing techniques and similar malware distribution methods. Likewise, you can protect your data in transit by using a VPN, and keep your PC, laptop, or other devices safe by using a reliable security suite. has a firewall.

Ultimately, you need to trust the websites you provide your personal information to. Small steps can make a big difference, such as checking HTTPS in the address bar, looking for trustworthiness before creating an account, and looking for past data leaks.

If you can't trust a website with your private data, don't do it.

Samuel Daniel

Update 07 August 2024

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