### Comment:
What is ransomware and how does it work?

### REPLY:
Ransomware is a powerful tool used by cybercriminals to extort money from individuals and organizations. It works by infiltrating a victim's computer through various methods such as phishing emails, social engineering, or exploiting software vulnerabilities. Once the malware is executed, it encrypts the victim's files and displays a ransom note demanding a payment in cryptocurrency. If the ransom is not paid within a specified timeframe, the malware may threaten to delete the encrypted files or expose sensitive data.