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.