zombie computer
nounEtymology From zombie + computer. First use appears c. 1999. See cite below.
1
Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Networking, Physical sciences, Sciences A computer connected to the Internet that has been compromised by a hacker by means of a computer virus, computer worm, or Trojan horse program and can be used to perform malicious tasks under the remote direction of the hacker.
- The danger is manifested in this version because the hackers are gaining control of as many as thousands of vulnerable zombie computers in order to magnify and direct their full-scale assault against a single victim from all directions.1999, Brian Fonseca, “"Denial-of-service attacks employ zombie PCs to hit networks"”, in Infoworld Daily News:
- Related terms
- zombie client