We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Hardware

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is Memory Corruption?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 12,196
Share

Memory corruption is a computer problem where a programming error generates an issue with the memory. When the user attempts to access the memory, the computer can behave strangely as it attempts to process the information. This can occur as a result of user errors, viruses, or glitches in a program or operating system. Users can apply various techniques to address this problem.

Computers rely on segmented memory to store information, using pointers to tell the operating system where to look for data. Sometimes the error that causes memory corruption is not immediately apparent, and this can lead to a situation where the user doesn't identify the problem until much later. She might save a file normally and go to open it several weeks later, only to discover that the computer cannot find it.

Errors can occur when memory moves, the user exceeds the buffer, or programs get confused about where to store information. When the computer encounters the memory corruption, several kinds of errors can occur. A program might begin to behave oddly, or could freeze because it does not know how to get to the necessary information. The computer may also return a specific error message related to the problem and ask the user to address the issue before attempting the command that triggered the error again.

Sometimes the memory corruption is the result of malicious code or a deliberate attack on a computer system. Operating systems and programs can have vulnerabilities, and a programmer may exploit these with code intended to create memory corruption. This may be done to sabotage a system or leave it open to access so a hacker can reach information that would normally be secure. The corruption can be costly to fix, and may render the system unusable until a technical professional can identify and repair the problem.

Information technology specialists can look into memory corruption and determine how to address the issue. This may require reformatting, making changes to the registry, or taking other actions. The cost for repairs depends on the nature of the error, the size of the system, and the root cause. If the cause is a recurring issue, the technician will need to address it before fixing the memory, and this could make the fix more expensive.

Developers who design and test new software must think about memory corruption as part of their work. They routinely test products in development and ask beta testers to do the same as the project gets closer to completion. The testers will engage in activities to break or confuse the program, and take note of the errors they encounter. If it is possible to generate errors through a user action, the developers will need to fix it.

Share
EasyTechJunkie is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a EasyTechJunkie researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Discussion Comments
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.easytechjunkie.com/what-is-memory-corruption.htm
Copy this link
EasyTechJunkie, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

EasyTechJunkie, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.