TechnologyAugust 15, 2026

rootkit

ROOT-kit

Definition

A malicious software package designed to provide an unauthorized user with privileged, administrative-level access to a computer system while hiding its own presence from the operating system and security tools.

Etymology

The word is a compound of 'root'—the traditional name for the administrative account in Unix-like operating systems that has full access privileges—and 'kit', referring to a set of software tools. It emerged in the 1990s to describe tools that allowed attackers to gain 'root' access and hide their activities.

In the news

The article mentions that Jewelbug deployed a rootkit as part of its toolkit for Linux servers and network routers, allowing the attackers to maintain hidden control and harvest credentials.

Jewelbug Spy Ring Hit 15 Ministries in One Strike, Ran Crypto Fraud From Same Panel

Read the full article ↗

Tech Times

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