Imagine this.
You wake up, make your coffee, boot up your laptop — and instead of your desktop, you get a giant message:
💀 “Your files are locked. Pay us £500 in Bitcoin, or kiss your photos, music, and work goodbye.”
That, my friend, is ransomware.
What Exactly Is Ransomware?
Ransomware is a type of malicious software (malware) that gets onto your device, locks your files, and demands money to unlock them.
Think of it as a burglar who sneaks into your house, sticks everything you own in a safe, then throws away the key — unless you pay up.
And here’s the kicker: even if you do pay, there’s no guarantee you’ll get your stuff back.
How Does It Get In?
Hackers don’t need Hollywood hacking skills. They usually get in through:
• Phishing emails – dodgy attachments or links you clicked on
• Out-of-date software – those “remind me later” updates you keep snoozing
• Dodgy downloads – that “free game” or “cracked software”
• Public Wi-Fi – sneaky injections when you’re sipping lattes at Starbucks
Real Example
Back in 2017, WannaCry ransomware spread like wildfire. It hit the NHS in the UK, cancelling appointments, locking systems, and causing chaos.
It wasn’t just businesses either — home users got caught in the blast.
The cost? Billions worldwide.
Do This Today to Avoid It
- Back up your files
Use an external drive or cloud storage. If ransomware hits, you can just wipe and restore. - Update everything
Computers, phones, even your router. Updates patch the holes ransomware crawls through. - Think before you click
Random attachment from “DHL Delivery”? Nah. Hover over links, trust your gut. - Use security software
Even free antivirus is better than nothing. - Be careful with public Wi-Fi
If you must use it, don’t access sensitive accounts unless you’ve got a VPN.
Key Takeaway
Ransomware isn’t just an IT department’s nightmare — it’s something that can hit anyone, from your gran with her online bingo logins to your small business with invoices.
It thrives on panic and poor habits. But with a few simple steps (backups, updates, caution), you can slam the door in its face.
At The Cyber Workshop, our Ransomware Workshop shows you how these attacks unfold in the real world, how to spot the red flags, and what to do if it happens to you. No jargon. Just practical, simple actions that keep you in control.
Till next time,
Remember: backups are boring… until they save your bacon.
