Which of the following is NOT typically a characteristic of ransomware?

The characteristic that is not typically associated with ransomware is that it allows users to regain access to data without payment. Ransomware operates by encrypting a victim's data and then demanding a ransom payment to provide the decryption key needed to unlock that data. The nature of ransomware is fundamentally predicated on restricting access to the user’s data until the ransom is paid, creating urgency and coercing victims into complying with the request.

Typically, ransomware may threaten to delete files as an added fear tactic, pressuring victims into making a payment. It also spreads through various vectors, including malicious downloads and phishing emails, to infect new systems. However, the premise that it would allow for regaining access without payment contradicts its core mechanism of extortion, making it clear that this option does not align with the defining characteristics of ransomware behavior.