California legal term
Ransomware in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “Ransomware” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the California criminal code.
What does “Ransomware” mean in California criminal law?
“Ransomware” means a computer contaminant, as defined in Section 502, or lock placed or introduced without authorization into a computer, computer system, or computer network that restricts access by an authorized person to the computer, computer system, computer network, or any data therein under circumstances in which the person responsible for the placement or introduction of the ransomware demands payment of money or other consideration to remove the computer contaminant, restore access to the computer, computer system, computer network, or data, or otherwise remediate the impact of the co (Cal. Penal Code § 523)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.