Definition ∞ A time bomb attack is a type of malicious software or code designed to activate and execute its harmful payload at a specific future date, time, or upon a predefined condition. This attack remains dormant until its trigger criteria are met, making it difficult to detect through conventional immediate security scans. Once activated, it can cause system disruption, data corruption, or unauthorized asset transfers. Such attacks demonstrate a planned and delayed malicious intent.
Context ∞ Time bomb attacks pose a serious, stealthy threat to blockchain systems and smart contracts, as they can bypass initial security checks and activate much later. The discussion often centers on the need for continuous monitoring of deployed contracts and the challenges of identifying dormant malicious logic within complex codebases. Future security measures include advanced static and dynamic analysis tools capable of predicting future execution paths and potential trigger conditions. News occasionally reports on sophisticated exploits that exhibit characteristics of time bomb attacks.
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