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| | buffer overflow - a Whatis.com definition (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-19) |
 | | A buffer overflow occurs when a program or process tries to store more data in a buffer (temporary data storage area) than it was intended to hold. |
 | | In buffer overflow attacks, the extra data may contain codes designed to trigger specific actions, in effect sending new instructions to the attacked computer that could, for example, damage the user's files, change data, or disclose confidential information. |
 | | Buffer overflow attacks are said to have arisen because the C programming language supplied the framework, and poor programming practices supplied the vulnerability. |
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