Iowa legal term
Ransomware in Iowa Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Iowa legislative session
In Iowa 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 Iowa criminal code.
What does “Ransomware” mean in Iowa criminal law?
“Ransomware” means a computer or data contaminant, encryption, or lock that is placed or introduced without authorization into a computer, computer network, or computer system that restricts access by an authorized person to a computer, computer data, a computer system, or a computer network in a manner that results in the person responsible for the placement or introduction of the contaminant, encryption, or lock making a demand for payment of money or other consideration to remove the contaminant, encryption, or lock. 13. “Transmit” means to transfer, send, or make available computer softwar (Iowa Code § 715.3)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.