Ransomware: How do you avoid getting caught in the trap?

From universities and hospitals to small charities and businesses, criminals using ransomware aren't picky about targets as long as they pay.

• Dog charity pays hackers ransom to retrieve computer files

• U of C ransom payout better than battling hackers, expert says

Ransomware is the name given to software or computer viruses that spread by email attachments or compromised websites and encrypt the host computer's files, holding them hostage until the perpetrators are paid.

So what can you do to avoid having your data held hostage? And if it happens, what can you do to protect yourself?

Avner Levin, the director of Ryerson University's privacy and cyber crime institute, wason CBC Radio's Ontario Today at 12 p.m. ET todiscusshow ransomware works and how to avoid it.

He later took part in alive chatto answer questions about how to avoid having your computer or business held hostage by ransomware.