They're not using cryptography, but aren't they demanding ransom? Is the use of cryptography an essential part of what it means for something to be ransomware, or is it merely a common implementation detail?
No, a ransom is a fee paid for the release of something you value. Cryptography is one way to take a user's data, and release it back to them on payment.
This is blackmail. They want payment to not release something.
This is "the malware got in and sent copies back home; now home base is threatening release and expecting payment to prevent it." To me, this is blackmail done via hacking, not ransomware.
> Ransomware is a type of malware from cryptovirology that threatens to publish the victim's data or perpetually block access to it unless a ransom is paid.
(added emphasis)
Here's the third sentence from that very same paragraph:
>It encrypts the victim's files, making them inaccessible, and demands a ransom payment to decrypt them.
Not everything can be explained in a single sentence.
They copied the data, and they want money otherwise they will release it. It's ordinary blackmail.