master boot record


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master boot record

The first sector on the hard disk, which contains a tiny program and the disk's partition table. When the program is executed, it determines which partition contains the active operating system and branches to the boot program in that partition's boot sector to load it. See boot sector.
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References in periodicals archive ?
The master boot record (MBR) consists of executable code that's stored in the first sector (sector 0) of a hard disk drive and launches the operating system's boot loader.
This Free Tool Protects PCs from Master Boot Record Attacks
When the PC is turned on or rebooted, the program loads from the master boot record and asks for the user's password.
Hard-disk encryption
It infects the boot sector on a floppy disk and spreads to a user's hard drive and can infect the master boot record (MBR) on a hard drive.
Confessions of an Internet hacker: Stealing your personal information was hard to resist
John Miller, senior manager, Analysis, FireEye, said, "Petya belongs to the ransomware family that is atypical in that the malware does not encrypt individual files on victims' systems, but instead overwrites the master boot record (MBR) and encrypts the master file table (MFT), which renders the system inoperable until the ransom has been paid.
FireEye: Petya is spreading via EternalBlue exploit
Encryption is at a low level using the master file tree tables for the new technology file system and overwrites the master boot record with a ransomware warning.
Under Attack Again, Petya the Latest Assault
Once executed, Petya overwrites a machine's master boot record with a custom boot loader that begins the process of encrypting a system's files on reboot.
How To Protect Yourself Against Petya Ransomware
Meanwhile, new threats attacking the master boot record increased by 49 per cent in the first quarter of the year, while ransmware sample counts dropped for three straight quarters and botnet providers included virtual currency mining capabilities with their services, reflecting the increasing popularity of digital currencies such as Bitcoin, it added.
'Mobile malware tactics abuse legitimate apps'
The same Jpeg fragment is used to overwrite the master boot record of targeted hard drives, an almost comic device to use in such a serious attack.
'Shamoon' cyberweapon the work of amateurs, Kaspersky says
Such attacks occur before the operating system (OS) loads, targeting the system BIOS and Master Boot Record (MBR), and can persistently infect higher-level system functions including operating systems and applications.
United States : Wave Endpoint Monitor Delivers a Powerful Weapon in the Battle against Advanced Persistent Threats
payload which can overwrite files and the Master Boot Record (MBR) of the
Shamoon malware targeting energy sector
Hidden from Windows OS, an entry into the Master Boot Record (MBR) ensures that this software always loads prior to loading the OS.
Personal disaster recovery software: an essential part of business disaster recovery plans

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