What is a Logic Bomb?
A logic bomb is a piece of malicious code that cyberattackers insert into an operating system or software that lies dormant until a specific condition is met. The conditions could be set to a pre-selected date/time (also known as a time bomb) or they could be set to be activated when a specific command is typed in by a user. A logic bomb carries a computer virus or a computer worm. A computer virus is a malicious program that spreads by infecting files and corrupting or deleting data, while a computer worm goes further and applies more threatening malware such as ransomware, spyware, and rootkits. Some historic examples of logic bombs are from disgruntled employees. The following are shared characteristics of logic bombs:
- They lie dormant until they are triggered. Triggers may include a specified amount of elapsed time, a specified date, a certain transaction, a particular program is launched, or someone fails to login (such as an admin)
- They carry an unknown payload, which is the part of the code that performs the cyberattack
- They deliver the payload when a certain condition is met
Logic bomb may be programmed to carry out a number of malicious actions including:
- Data theft
- Data corruption
- Data removal
- Backdoor establishment
- Resource consumption
- User access limitations
- Wiping hard drives
- Unauthorized financial transactions
In order to prevent logic bomb attacks:
Antivirus and anti-malware solutions. Dependable antivirus and anti-malware solutions that are regularly updated provide a great deal of protection against logic bombs by using artificial intelligence (AI) to detecting malicious payloads with unknown signatures in real time and removing them from your system.
Download cautiously. Carefully consider cybersecurity risks when downloading software or documents from the internet. Freeware and pirated applications and software are notorious cybersecurity risks and should be avoided. Be certain that email attachments and links are coming from trustworthy sources before clicking on them. Be aware that spoofed emails are designed to appear as if they are from trustworthy sources, so it is wise to confirm with the legitimate sender if you receive an email from them with unexpected links, attachments, or requests for sensitive information.
Update OS. Frequently update your operating system to ensure that the latest features and security enhancements are applied.