Advanced ransomware monitors victim behavior. It can log keystrokes, track online activity, or detect attempts to remove it. This intelligence helps attackers escalate ransom demands or select data to exfiltrate. Surveillance adds psychological pressure. It blurs the line between ransomware and spyware.
It matters because privacy is invaded even before encryption occurs. Threat detection must consider behavioral monitoring.
It also demonstrates the convergence of cybercrime techniques.
Some ransomware actively monitors victims before activating.
[Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, cisa.gov]