What’s the difference between scareware and ransomware?

Scareware frightens victims into action without causing real harm. Fake virus warnings, fraudulent tech support alerts, and bogus legal threats pressure victims to pay for unnecessary services or fake protections.

Ransomware actually encrypts files, causing real harm requiring real recovery. Payment may or may not provide working decryption. The damage is genuine whether or not victims pay.

Key difference: scareware is deception about threat; **ransomware** is real threat. Both demand payment, but **ransomware** victims face actual data loss while scareware victims face only fear and financial loss from unnecessary payments.