logic bomb

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Word: Logic Bomb

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A logic bomb is a set of instructions or code that is secretly added to a computer program. It is designed to "explode" or activate when certain conditions are met. When it activates, it can cause harmful effects, like deleting or corrupting data, or displaying false messages.

Usage Instructions: You can use "logic bomb" when talking about computer security, programming, or situations where someone might intentionally cause damage to a system.

Example Sentence: The company's IT department discovered a logic bomb in the software that would erase all user data at midnight on New Year's Eve.

Advanced Usage

In advanced discussions, you might refer to the ethical implications and security measures regarding the use of logic bombs in programming and cybersecurity.

Word Variants

• Logic Bombing (verb): The act of creating or using a logic bomb.
  • Example: "The hacker was accused of logic bombing a rival company's database."

Different Meanings

While "logic bomb" primarily refers to a harmful piece of code in computing, in a broader sense, it can metaphorically describe a situation that is set to cause trouble or disruption once specific conditions arise.

Synonyms

• Time bomb (in a metaphorical sense)
• Malware (in a broader sense, though not all malware is a logic bomb)

Related Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

• "Waiting for the other shoe to drop": This idiom means waiting for something bad to happen after an initial event, similar to how a logic bomb waits for a trigger.

• "Set off a chain reaction": This phrase can describe events that lead to an inevitable outcome, similar to how a logic bomb activates under specific conditions.

Summary

A logic bomb is a hidden piece of code in a program that can cause damage when certain conditions are met.

Academic

Noun

1. a set of instructions inserted into a program that are designed to execute (or `explode') if a particular condition is satisfied; when exploded it may delete or corrupt data, or print a spurious message, or have other harmful effects
   • a disgruntled employee planted a logic bomb

Synonyms

• slag code