Legal Definitions - logic bomb

A logic bomb is a type of malicious software that is designed to cause harm to a computer, server, or network. It is usually planted by a hacker or a disgruntled employee and remains dormant until a specific trigger event occurs.

Once the trigger event occurs, the logic bomb will activate and carry out its destructive or disruptive actions. These actions can range from deleting files to crashing the system.

• A programmer who is about to be fired from a company plants a logic bomb in the company's payroll system. The logic bomb is set to activate on the last day of the programmer's employment and will delete all of the company's payroll data.
• A hacker plants a logic bomb in a hospital's computer system. The logic bomb is set to activate during a busy time, such as a natural disaster or a major accident, and will shut down the hospital's computer system, making it impossible for doctors and nurses to access patient records.

These examples illustrate how a logic bomb can be used to cause significant harm to a computer system or network. In both cases, the logic bomb is designed to activate at a specific time and carry out its destructive actions, causing chaos and disruption.