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What is the difference between an exploit and a compromise?


I see the words compromise and exploit being used interchangeably. When I did basic Google searches for this question, the answers were about the difference between an exploit and a vulnerability, not the comparison I queried.


Solution

  • Exploit: software that makes use of a flaw of the operating system or host software to gain some kind of a benefit.

    Compromise: the act of damaging the integrity, confidentiality or availability of a computer; for example, through an exploit.