Logic Bomb
Malicious code secretly planted in a system that stays dormant until a specific condition or date triggers it to activate.
A logic bomb↗ is malicious code secretly planted within a legitimate program or system that remains dormant and undetected until a specific condition is met, such as a particular date, a file deletion, or an employee's user account being removed. Once triggered, it can delete data, corrupt files, or disable systems.
Logic bombs are notoriously associated with insider threats, since they're often planted by someone with legitimate system access, such as a disgruntled employee, as a form of sabotage timed to activate after they've left. Regular code audits and strict change-control processes help catch logic bombs before they trigger.