Capterra Glossary
Executable File (EXE File)
An executable file (EXE file) is a computer file that contains binary machine code that instructs a computerʻs central processing unit (CPU) how to run a program. Once a computer user clicks on an executable file, it immediately begins to run its code, allowing a program to run on a computer system. On Windows OS devices, compiled programs use the .EXE file extension. On Mac OS devices, compiled programs use the .APP file extension. Businesses often use executable files to download new applications onto their computer systems. Since executable files run code as soon as they are opened, it is important for companies to refrain from opening executable file attachments that they receive as email attachments. Unknown executable files can contain malicious computer code that can infect a computer system as soon as they are opened by a computer user.
What Small and Midsize Businesses Need to Know About Executable File (EXE File)
To protect the sensitive data their companies hold, small and midsize corporations tend to encourage their employees not to open any executable files downloaded off the internet. Most of the time, cyberattackers will disguise their malicious code as an image or video file to entice company employees to download it onto their company computer. Once an employee clicks on the downloaded file, the malicious code begins to run on their computer, infecting it with a computer virus. To mitigate the threat of downloading malicious files, small organizations regularly update their antivirus software solutions and encourage employees not to download executable files off the internet.
Related Terms
- Synchronous
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
- Intranet
- Security Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR)
- Identity and Access Management (IAM)
- Managed Service Provider (MSP)
- Haptics
- WAN (Wide-Area Network)
- Service-oriented Architecture (SOA)
- Augmented Reality (AR)
- Chief Information Officer (CIO)
- Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
- Platform as a Service (PaaS)
- Service-Level Agreement (SLA)
- Scalability
- Data Center
- Authorization
- Multitenancy