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Ransomware vs Phishing - What's the difference?

ransomware | phishing |

In computing terms the difference between ransomware and phishing

is that ransomware is malware that holds the data of a computer user for ransom while phishing is the act of sending email that falsely claims to be from a legitimate organization. This is usually combined with a threat or request for information: for example, that an account will close, a balance is due, or information is missing from an account. The email will ask the recipient to supply confidential information, such as bank account details, PINs or passwords; these details are then used by the owners of the website to conduct fraud.

As a verb phishing is

present participle of lang=en.

ransomware

English

Noun

(-)
  • (computing) Malware that holds the data of a computer user for ransom.
  • * 2008 , Markus Jakobsson, Zulfikar Ramzan, Crimeware: Understanding New Attacks and Defenses? , p. 375:
  • The amount of money generated by ransomware schemes would appear to be quite small given their lack of popularity and the asking price in ransom notes...
  • (computing, derogatory) Software that is released as open source only in exchange for payment.
  • phishing

    English

    Noun

    (-) (wikipedia phishing)
  • (computing) The act of sending email that falsely claims to be from a legitimate organization. This is usually combined with a threat or request for information: for example, that an account will close, a balance is due, or information is missing from an account. The email will ask the recipient to supply confidential information, such as bank account details, PINs or passwords; these details are then used by the owners of the website to conduct fraud.
  • The act of circumventing security with an alias.
  • Synonyms

    * spoofing

    Verb

    (head)
  • See also