Tech moves fast! Stay ahead of the curve with Techopedia!
Join nearly 200,000 subscribers who receive actionable tech insights from Techopedia.
Proof-of-Concept Virus
Definition - What does Proof-of-Concept Virus mean?
A proof-of-concept virus is a method of identifying and removing a software vulnerability or flaw by creating a virus that actually exploits that vulnerability. It is a type of non-malicious software virus that aims to identify, evaluate and remove vulnerability from a software or system.
Techopedia explains Proof-of-Concept Virus
A proof-of-concept virus is typically created by a virus or information security (IS) researcher. It works when a researcher, or anyone with IS and programming skills, identifies a software vulnerability, bug or error that can jeopardize that system's security. After identification, the individual writes a virus that uses that vulnerability to exploit the software or break into the system. The individual later shares this with the owner/developer of the software or with the anti-virus vendor, in order to help them mitigate or remove it.
