TechnologyAugust 9, 2026

ransom

RAN-sum

Definition

A sum of money or other payment demanded or paid for the release of someone or something from captivity, or in a digital context, for the restoration of access to stolen or encrypted data.

Etymology

Derived from the Old French 'rançon', which traces back to the Latin 'redemptionem', meaning a buying back or release. It entered English via the Anglo-Norman language following the Norman Conquest.

In the news

The article uses the word to describe the financial demand made by attackers to regain access to systems crippled by the cyberattack. It is central to understanding the criminal motivation behind the emergency declaration.

Suisun City Declares State of Emergency After Cyberattack

Read the full article ↗

KQED

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