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Training Camp • Cybersecurity Glossary
A downloader is first-stage malware that retrieves and installs additional malicious payloads from a remote server after initial compromise.
Downloader Definition: A downloader is first-stage malware that retrieves and installs additional malicious payloads from a remote server after initial compromise.
A downloader is a small, often lightweight piece of malware whose primary purpose is to retrieve and install additional malicious payloads from an attacker-controlled server after gaining an initial foothold on a victim system. By keeping the first-stage code minimal, attackers reduce its footprint and improve the odds of evading detection, then fetch heavier payloads such as ransomware, banking trojans, or backdoors. Downloaders are a common element of multi-stage attacks and are frequently delivered through phishing attachments or drive-by compromises.
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