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

Word History and Origins

Origin of drive-by download¹

First recorded in 2000–05

Example Sentences

He believes the end of support for most Android users “could definitely raise the number of drive-by download attacks for Android, but the majority of malware infections will still come from willingly installed malicious apps”.

From Forbes

A drive-by download web toolkit, which includes updates and 24/7 support, can be rented for $100 to $700 a week.

From Forbes

When victims visit the site from their mobile phone, they inadvertently download the code, in what is known as a “drive-by download.”

From New York Times

Not by a self-replicating virus or drive-by download malware, which are the vectors with which consumers are most familiar. 

From Forbes

Victims get infected with the ransomware through a method known as a “drive-by download” in which they simply need visit a website — in some cases a pornography site — to inadvertently download the ransomware onto their machine.

From New York Times