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drive-by download

[ drahyv-bahy doun-lohd ]

noun

, Digital Technology.
  1. the installation of a virus or malware onto a computer or mobile device without the owner’s knowledge, occurring when a compromised website or email is merely viewed, without having to click on a link therein.

drive-by download

noun

  1. an incidence of an unwanted program being automatically downloaded to a computer, often without the user's knowledge

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Word History and Origins

Origin of drive-by download1

First recorded in 2000–05

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