What Is An Exploit
In cybersecurity, an exploit is software, data, or a sequence of commands that target security vulnerabilities to cause unanticipated behavior in a computer, software, or other electronic device. Exploits, which essentially are “hacks,” can lead to unauthorized control of a computer system. Exploits can also result in the following:
- DoS, or denial of service attacks to remove a system or network
- Unauthorized access to gain administrator access
- Installation of malicious software into a system or hardware
- Theft of sensitive data, such as passwords or financial information
Examples of Exploits
The following are examples of common exploits in cybersecurity:
- Buffer overflow – Allows the attacker to overwrite memory beyond the intended boundaries of a buffer through programming errors.
- Cross-site scripting – XSS exploit exploits a vulnerability in a web application, allowing an attacker to inject malicious code into a web page.
- SQL injection – Allows the attacker to exploit a vulnerability in a web application, resulting in the injection of malicious SQL code into a database query.
How To Protect Yourself From An Exploit
Below are steps you can take to reduce the risk of an exploit leading to harm in a system or network:
- Update software – Keep your web browser and operating system up to date, as this protects your data and network against known cyber vulnerabilities.
- Exert caution – Be weary of suspicious links, images, URLs, or websites because they can contain malware.
- Protect yourself – Use a security solution, including web filtering and malware protection, that prevents malicious activity from infecting your computer.
- Strong passwords – Strong passwords and multi-factor authentication can help reduce cybersecurity risks.