noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈkɹɪptəʊˌvaɪɹəs/
General-American:/ˈkɹɪptoʊˌvaɪɹəs/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A kind of plant virus associated with latent infection of the host, and not transmissible by many means.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: biology, natural-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A type of malware that is used for extortion by encrypting user files and asking for payment in exchange for the decryption key.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: computer security
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: cryptoransomware
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From crypto- (prefix meaning ‘hidden; invisible’) + virus.
From crypto- (prefix meaning ‘cryptographic’) + virus.
Across languages
Translations
30 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Finnish:
kryptovirus
— kind of plant virus associated with latent infection of the host, and not transmissible by many means
Belarusian:
вірус-шыфравальшчык
(virus-šyfravalʹščyk)
— type of malware that is used for extortion by encrypting user files and asking for payment in exchange for the decryption key
Czech:
kryptovirus
— type of malware that is used for extortion by encrypting user files and asking for payment in exchange for the decryption key
Czech:
šifrovací virus
— type of malware that is used for extortion by encrypting user files and asking for payment in exchange for the decryption key
Estonian:
krüptoviirus
— type of malware that is used for extortion by encrypting user files and asking for payment in exchange for the decryption key
Finnish:
kryptovirus
— type of malware that is used for extortion by encrypting user files and asking for payment in exchange for the decryption key
French:
cryptovirus
— type of malware that is used for extortion by encrypting user files and asking for payment in exchange for the decryption key
French:
cryptorançongiciel
— type of malware that is used for extortion by encrypting user files and asking for payment in exchange for the decryption key
French:
crypto-verrouilleur
— type of malware that is used for extortion by encrypting user files and asking for payment in exchange for the decryption key
French:
logiciel de cryptoverrouillage
— type of malware that is used for extortion by encrypting user files and asking for payment in exchange for the decryption key
German:
Verschlüsselungstrojaner
— type of malware that is used for extortion by encrypting user files and asking for payment in exchange for the decryption key
Hungarian:
kriptovírus
— type of malware that is used for extortion by encrypting user files and asking for payment in exchange for the decryption key
Hungarian:
titkosítóvírus
— type of malware that is used for extortion by encrypting user files and asking for payment in exchange for the decryption key
Indonesian:
virus enkripsi
— type of malware that is used for extortion by encrypting user files and asking for payment in exchange for the decryption key
Korean:
크립토 바이러스
(keuripto baireoseu)
— type of malware that is used for extortion by encrypting user files and asking for payment in exchange for the decryption key
Latvian:
šifrējošā izspiedējprogrammatūra
— type of malware that is used for extortion by encrypting user files and asking for payment in exchange for the decryption key
Latvian:
šifrējošais vīruss
— type of malware that is used for extortion by encrypting user files and asking for payment in exchange for the decryption key
Latvian:
šifrēšanas programmatūrā
— type of malware that is used for extortion by encrypting user files and asking for payment in exchange for the decryption key
Macedonian:
криптови́рус
(kriptovírus)
— type of malware that is used for extortion by encrypting user files and asking for payment in exchange for the decryption key
Norwegian:
kryptovirus
— type of malware that is used for extortion by encrypting user files and asking for payment in exchange for the decryption key
Norwegian:
krypteringsvirus
— type of malware that is used for extortion by encrypting user files and asking for payment in exchange for the decryption key
Polish:
kryptowirus
— type of malware that is used for extortion by encrypting user files and asking for payment in exchange for the decryption key
Polish:
wirus-szyfrator
— type of malware that is used for extortion by encrypting user files and asking for payment in exchange for the decryption key
Russian:
криптови́рус
(kriptovírus)
— type of malware that is used for extortion by encrypting user files and asking for payment in exchange for the decryption key
Russian:
ви́рус-шифрова́льщик
(vírus-šifroválʹščik)
— type of malware that is used for extortion by encrypting user files and asking for payment in exchange for the decryption key
Slovene:
kriptovirus
— type of malware that is used for extortion by encrypting user files and asking for payment in exchange for the decryption key
Spanish:
virus encriptador
— type of malware that is used for extortion by encrypting user files and asking for payment in exchange for the decryption key
Turkish:
kripto virüsü
— type of malware that is used for extortion by encrypting user files and asking for payment in exchange for the decryption key
Turkish:
şifreleme virüsü
— type of malware that is used for extortion by encrypting user files and asking for payment in exchange for the decryption key
Ukrainian:
вірус-шифрувальник
(virus-šyfruvalʹnyk)
— type of malware that is used for extortion by encrypting user files and asking for payment in exchange for the decryption key