Zombie

Zombie is a type of computer that has been compromised by hackers or computer virus attacks and is now under the unauthorized control of a third party. Zombie computers are often referred to as “bots” and are used to perform many nefarious activities, such as launching distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks or sending spam emails.

The term “zombie” originated in the early 1980s, when large networks of connected computers began to be referred to as “the living dead.” The name was inspired by the classic horror movie concept of a dead person coming back to life and wreaking havoc.

A zombie computer is created when a hacker or computer virus manages to gain access to a vulnerable system. Once the malicious code has been installed, it can activate itself, allowing the attacker to control the system from a remote location. Hackers typically control large networks of zombie computers through command and control servers.

The primary purpose of zombie computers is to launch attacks on other systems or networks. For example, they may be used for distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, where a vast number of zombie computers are used to overwhelm a target system with a huge amount of traffic or requests. As well, zombie computers may be used to send spam emails or harvest personal information.

In order to protect themselves from zombie computers, individuals and organizations should make use of strong security measures, such as installing antivirus software, using firewalls, and implementing secure passwords. If a suspect computer is encountered, it should be monitored or disconnected from the network immediately. Additionally, if a compromised system is discovered, it should be reported to the Internet Service Provider (ISP).