Cyber Extortion

Cyber Extortion is when a hacker holds data, computer systems, applications, or a website hostage until the business pays a ransom demand or is able to remove the intruder. Common threats include the threat to:

• to damage or destroy data
• to block access to computer systems or applications
• to publicly disclose data
• to introduce malicious code
• to slow down or interrupt computer systems

Cyber extortion is typically executed in the form of ransomware (a type of malicious software) or a denial of service attack.
See more under Extortion Threat Coverage.