A ransomware affiliate is an independent cybercriminal or group that partners with a larger ransomware organization. These affiliates use ransomware tools and infrastructure provided by the main group to launch attacks on targets, such as businesses or individuals. In exchange, they share a portion of the ransom payments with the main group. This partnership model, often called 'Ransomware-as-a-Service' (RaaS), allows skilled attackers to focus on breaching systems while relying on the technical expertise and support of the ransomware developers. The affiliate system has contributed to the rapid growth and sophistication of ransomware attacks worldwide.