Editing Zombie (computing) (section)

{{Short description|Compromised computer used for malicious tasks on a network}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{About|the term "zombie" in computer security|"zombie" in UNIX programming|Zombie process}}

In [[computing]], a '''zombie''' is a computer connected to the Internet that has been [[computer security|compromised]] by a [[Hacker (computer security)|hacker]] via a [[computer virus]], [[computer worm]], or [[Trojan horse (computing)|trojan horse]] program and can be used to  perform malicious tasks under the remote direction of the hacker. Zombie computers often coordinate together in a [[botnet]] controlled by the hacker, and are used for activities such as spreading [[e-mail spam]] and launching [[distributed denial-of-service attack]]s (DDoS attacks) against web servers.  Most victims are unaware that their computers have become zombies. The concept is similar to the [[zombie]] of [[Haitian Voodoo]] folklore, which refers to a corpse resurrected by a [[Sorcerer (supernatural)|sorcerer]] via magic and enslaved to the sorcerer's commands, having no free will of its own.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ccexpert.us/port-security/zombie.html|title = Zombie - Port Security|date = August 3, 2021}}</ref> A coordinated [[DDoS attack]] by multiple botnet machines also resembles a "zombie horde attack", as depicted in fictional [[zombie film]]s.

[[File:Circle of spam.svg|300px|right|thumb|(1)&nbsp;Spammer's web site (2)&nbsp;Spammer (3)&nbsp;Spamware (4)&nbsp;Infected computers (5)&nbsp;Virus or trojan (6)&nbsp;Mail servers (7)&nbsp;Users (8)&nbsp;Web traffic]]