FAQ: What's a Flash Exploit?

You may be used to the term "exploit" when referring to people; it generally means to abuse some weakness, vulnerability, or disadvantage to gain the upper hand or even to cause a person harm and distress. In the world of computer security it basically means the same thing - only it uses a vulnerability in a program to gain control of all or part of your computer with the same end result: harm to your data, security, and privacy, and distress on your part. Many programs can have exploits, and unfortunately Flash is no different...but that doesn't mean you can't safeguard yourself against people who'd take advantage.