Is ransomware malware?

Yes. Ransomware is a category of malware — malicious software — distinguished by its goal of extortion. Where other malware might steal data quietly or hijack resources, ransomware makes data or systems unavailable, usually through encryption, and demands payment to restore access.

Because it is purpose-built to deny access to data, the most reliable defense is the ability to recover that data cleanly. Elastio confirms which backups and snapshots are free of ransomware so recovery does not depend on the attacker.

Last updated May 27, 2026