which type of malware prevents you from accessing files stored on your computer?

The type of malware that prevents you from accessing files stored on your computer is ransomware.

What ransomware does

• Ransomware is malicious software that encrypts your files or locks your system so you cannot use your data.

• The attacker then demands a ransom payment (often in cryptocurrency) in exchange for the decryption key or to stop data being leaked.

How it blocks your files

• Many ransomware strains encrypt documents, photos, databases, and other important files, making them unreadable without the decryption key.

• Some variants also threaten to delete or publish your data if you do not pay, adding extortion pressure on top of the loss of access.

Quick protection tips

• Keep regular offline or cloud backups so you can restore files without paying.

• Update your operating system and software, use reputable security tools, and be cautious with email attachments and links to reduce infection risk.