Ransomware - Quiz

1. What is the primary purpose of ransomware?

A) To improve the security of a computer network.
B) To delete all files on a computer permanently.
C) To hold a victim's private data hostage until a ransom is paid.
D) To track the browsing history of a user.

2. What methods are typically used to request ransom payments?

A) Cryptocurrency or stored-value cards.
B) Mailing physical cash to an anonymous address.
C) Credit card payments via public websites.
D) Direct bank transfers to personal accounts.

3. What is the name of the first documented ransomware from 1989?

A) CryptoLocker
B) AIDS trojan
C) WannaCry
D) CryptoWall

4. How did the WannaCry worm differ from typical ransomware delivery?

A) It was pre-installed on new computer hardware.
B) It traveled automatically between computers without user interaction.
C) It required manual installation by an administrator.
D) It was sent exclusively through SMS messages.

5. Who invented the concept of file-encrypting ransomware?

A) The FBI
B) Statista analysts
C) Young and Yung
D) McAfee researchers

6. What fictional creature inspired the concept of cryptoviral extortion?

A) Facehugger from the movie Alien
B) Godzilla
C) The Terminator
D) Predator

7. In the context of the cryptoviral extortion protocol, what is zeroized?

A) The symmetric key and the original plaintext data.
B) The attacker's private key.
C) The victim's network connection.
D) The operating system boot record.

8. What is hybrid encryption in the context of ransomware?

A) Encrypting the same file twice with different public keys.
B) Using two different types of malware to lock a system.
C) Sending two separate ransom notes to different victims.
D) Encrypting data with a symmetric key and the symmetric key with a public key.

9. Why is it often in the attacker's best interest to provide the decryption key?

A) The FBI forces them to provide it.
B) It is legally required by international law.
C) The attacker feels sympathy for the victim.
D) Victims will stop paying if they learn payments serve no purpose.

10. What was the estimated total cost for ransomware victims in 2023?

A) $1.1 billion
B) $1.25 billion
C) $813 million
D) $999 million

11. What is scareware?

A) A method for encrypting files using strong algorithms.
B) A program that destroys the hardware motherboard.
C) A security tool used to detect ransomware.
D) A program that claims to lock the system but does not actually do so.

12. What percentage of organizations retrieved their data from backups according to Sophos?

A) 26%
B) 56%
C) 18%
D) 94%

13. What is one way ransomware might prevent an operating system from booting?

A) Deleting the power supply firmware.
B) Modifying the master boot record or partition table.
C) Disabling the keyboard and mouse drivers.
D) Overheating the computer processor.

14. Which organization reported 3,611 ransomware complaints in 2025?

A) Statista
B) IC3
C) McAfee
D) IEEE

15. Why is it sometimes possible to retrieve files without paying the ransom?

A) The government releases a universal key.
B) The malware author sends them back automatically.
C) Implementation mistakes or leaked cryptographic keys.
D) The files were never actually encrypted.

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