ITPEC FE Subject A April 2026 Question 31

Malicious software blocking access to a computer and demanding money to unblock it.

Ransomware encrypts files or locks the system, then displays a demand for payment in exchange for the key. The extortion is what distinguishes it from other malware.

Answer (b)

Why not others:
- (a) — lists adware, spyware and freeware together; freeware is simply software distributed at no cost and is not malicious, so the group is not a definition of anything
- (c) — MAC address randomization is a privacy feature built into modern operating systems, not an attack
- (d) — a random number generator is a normal building block of security software

Key rule: Ransomware is defined by the demand for payment. Malware that steals quietly is spyware; malware that shows ads is adware; malware that holds your data hostage is ransomware.

AI-generated — may contain errors