Main differences between ransomware and sextortion attacks

Ransomware attacks and sextortion are similar in that both types of threats are aimed at extracting profit from victims through blackmail, but they differ significantly in their distribution methods, goals, and consequences. Ransomware is most often distributed through malicious email attachments or software vulnerabilities. Such programs encrypt data on the victim's computer and demand a money transfer to restore it. The goal of such attacks is to obtain money by threatening to lose data that is important to the victim. The consequences usually include financial losses and damage to reputation. Sextortion, on the other hand, is most often implemented through threats to publish personal intimate materials that can be stolen from the Internet or obtained through manipulation of personal data. Unlike ransomware, the main goal here is moral pressure to force the victim to pay or comply with the attacker's demands. This can lead to the destruction of personal life and psychological trauma.

I recently came across a great article on https://www.blackdown.org/ransomware-vs-sextortion/ Which explains in detail the differences between Ransomware and Sextortion attacks, their consequences, and how to protect yourself. The main difference is the method of pressure: Ransomware blocks access to data and demands a ransom, while Sextortion uses threats to publish personal materials (usually fake) to blackmail. In the short term, both attacks cause stress, financial losses, and disruption to business or personal life. In the long term, they can lead to data leakage, reputational damage, and financial losses. To protect yourself, it is important to use strong passwords, two-factor authentication, data backup, and not fall for the tricks of scammers.