What is a logic bomb?

A logic bomb is a specific type of malicious code programmed to trigger under certain conditions. This means it remains dormant until specific criteria, which could be a date, a particular event, or the presence of certain files, are met. Once these conditions are fulfilled, the logic bomb activates and can execute its harmful payload, which might include deleting files, corrupting data, or launching other types of attacks.

This mechanism distinguishes a logic bomb from other forms of malware or benign software. In contrast to the other options, a logic bomb is not general malicious code that executes at any time (which could lead to more immediate damage without conditions) or harmless programs designed to boost system performance. Furthermore, there is no classification of software that enhances performance that would fall under the definition of a logic bomb. Hence, recognizing the conditional nature of logic bombs is key to understanding their function and the risks they pose to systems.