What is an exploit?
These are attacks that take advantage of vulnerabilities in order to access or infect devices, including PCs, Macs, and smartphones. Zero-day exploits often refer to vulnerabilities, which are identified before the software developer was made aware of it. These vulnerabilities tend to be closed when software is patched or a new version is released, which addresses the security vulnerability.
Some of the most high-profile exploits include Heartbleed and the iPhone vulnerability that enabled the FBI to access a locked phone.
How to prevent security exploits
To guard yourself against vulnerabilities, ensure your software is frequently updated, or use a tool such as Avira Software Updater, which updates critical software automatically as soon as a new release is made available.