<br />Ransomware is a type of malware that hijacks a victim's computer and charges a cash amount for the ransom, often using bitcoin virtual currency, which makes it nearly impossible to track down the criminal who may eventually receive the amount. This type of "hijacking virus" acts by encrypting operating system data so that the user no longer has access.<br />Once a Windows file is infected, the malware will encode user data in the background without anyone noticing. When everything is ready, it will issue a pop-up warning that the PC is locked and that the user will no longer be able to use it, unless they pay the required amount to obtain the key that gives access to their data again.<br />The difficult detection of ransomware and its disguises are the factors that make it so dangerous. The pest can infect your PC in several ways, through malicious websites, suspicious links via email, or installation of vulnerable apps. Ransomware can also appear in links sent by social networks, a way widely used to spread viruses these days.<br />