A file or program contains an exploit that can take advantage of a known vulnerability to gain unauthorized access or control of a program, device or service.
Based on the settings of your F-Secure security product, it will either move the file to the quarantine where it cannot spread or cause harm, or remove it.
A False Positive is when a file is incorrectly detected as harmful, usually because its code or behavior resembles known harmful programs. A False Positive will usually be fixed in a subsequent database update without any action needed on your part. If you wish, you may also:
Check for the latest database updates
First check if your F-Secure security program is using the latest updates, then try scanning the file again.
Submit a sample
After checking, if you still believe the file is incorrectly detected, you can submit a sample of it for re-analysis.
Note: If the file was moved to quarantine, you need to collect the file from quarantine before you can submit it.
Exclude a file from further scanning
If you are certain that the file is safe and want to continue using it, you can exclude it from further scanning by the F-Secure security product.
Note: You need administrative rights to change the settings.
An exploit can be any object - for example, a program, a piece of code, or even just a string of characters - that can take advantage of a flaw or loophole in a program or operating system (a vulnerability).
An exploit is usually maliciously used to gain unauthorized access, or to force a vulnerable program or operating system to perform unexpected actions.
The name of the detection that identified the exploit will often indicate the vulnerability it targets, such as:
Where CVE-2012-0507 is the name used by the CVE - Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) organization to identify the vulnerability.
Exploits are often included in harmful programs such as trojans or worms, to facilitate their other destructive actions. These programs are usually spread in email attachments, or as disguised files that are distributed over networks.
Exploits are also used by exploit kits, which are most commonly encountered on compromised webpages. While an unsuspecting user views the webpage, the kit silently probes their computer or device for any flaws that can be exploited.
Exploits allow an attacker to perform a wide range of possible actions on an affected device, from viewing data on a restricted-user database to gaining almost complete control of a compromised system. For examples of exploits on various platfoms, see the following descriptions: