Doxware

Doxware is a type of malware where certain files are seized. The user must then pay, typically by Bitcoin, or the files will be released over the internet. Doxware typically scans files for key phrases that indicate that they are confidential or private.

The attackers hope that users, faced with the possible release of important data that they do not want released publicly, will simply pay. Doxware is subcategory of ransomware, but the scope of the files that doxware targets is smaller than ordinary ransomware, which targets entire hard drives.