Glossary
R
Ransomware
- Description: A type of malware that encrypts a victim’s data and demands payment to restore access.
- Origin: First appeared in the late 1980s; grew significantly in the 2010s.
- Impacts Data Types: Any files on affected systems, including personal, medical, or financial data.
- Examples: WannaCry, REvil, and LockBit attacks.
- Potential Fines: Indirect — data breaches resulting from ransomware can trigger regulatory fines.
Redaction
- Description: The process of removing sensitive information from a document before publication or sharing.
- Origin: Used historically in legal/government documents; now widely adopted in data protection practices.
- Impacts Data Types: PII, classified information, legal content.
- Examples: Blacking out names in FOIA-released government records.
- Potential Fines: Indirect — improper redaction may result in data exposure and fines.