About Zero-Day Vulnerability:
- A ZDV is a system or software vulnerability unknown to the vendor and for which no patch or means of mitigation are available at the time it is discovered.
- The term ZDV refers to the flaw itself, while zero-day attack refers to an attack that has zero days between the time the vulnerability is discovered and the first attack.
- Zero-day exploit refers to the method or technique hackers use to take advantage of a ZDV, often via malware, and execute the attack.
- Thus, a zero-day attack occurs when threat actors develop and release malware that targets the ZDV.
- Because they were discovered before security researchers and software developers became aware of them—and before they can issue a patch—ZDVs pose a higher risk to users for the following reasons:
- Cybercriminals race to exploit these vulnerabilities to cash in on their schemes.
- Vulnerable systems are exposed until a patch is issued by the vendor.
Once a ZDV has been made public, it is known as an n-day or one-day vulnerability.
Q1: What is Malware?
Malware, or malicious software, is any program or file that is intentionally harmful to a computer, network or server. Types of malware include computer viruses, worms, Trojan horses, ransomware and spyware.
Source: Indian Govt Warns About Major Google Chrome Security Alert: What You Need To Know
Last updated on July, 2026
→ UPSC Mains 2026 will be conducted on 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 29th and 30th August 2026.
→ Enroll in Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Mains Test Series 2026 for structured answer writing practice, expert evaluation, and exam-oriented feedback.
→ Go through the UPSC Mains Previous Year Papers to enhance your preparation.
→ UPSC has released UPSC Toppers List 2025 with the Civil Services final result on its official website.
→ UPSC Calendar 2027 has been released.
→ Also check Best UPSC Coaching in India







