A drive-by download attack is a type of cyberattack where malicious code is downloaded and executed on a target device without the user’s knowledge or permission. This type of attack is often used to deliver malware, such as worms, trojans, and ransomware. Drive-by downloads may happen when visiting a website, opening an e-mail attachment or clicking a link, or clicking on a deceptive pop-up window. Drive-by download attacks specifically refer to malicious programs that install to your devices without your consent. A drive-by download can take advantage of an app, operating system, or web browser that contains security flaws due to unsuccessful updates or lack of updates. Unlike many other types of cyberattack, a drive-by doesnt rely on the user to do anything to actively enable the attack.
To summarize, a drive-by malware is a type of cyberattack where malicious code is downloaded and executed on a target device without the user’s knowledge or permission. It can happen when visiting a website, opening an e-mail attachment or clicking a link, or clicking on a deceptive pop-up window. It is often used to deliver malware, such as worms, trojans, and ransomware.