The affiliate model in cybersecurity refers to a business structure where cybercriminals, often called operators, recruit affiliates to distribute malware, ransomware, or other malicious tools. Affiliates are given access to the malware and are responsible for spreading it to victims, typically through phishing emails, malicious websites, or other attack vectors. In return, affiliates receive a percentage of the profits generated from successful attacks, such as ransom payments or stolen data sales. This model enables cybercriminals to scale their operations and reach more targets by leveraging the efforts of a network of partners.