letterbomb

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

letter bomb \let"ter bomb`\, letter-bomb \let"ter-bomb`\n.
   A bomb disguised as a letter and sent through the mail,
   usually rigged to explode and kill or harm the recipient when
   opened.
   [WordNet 1.5]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

letter-bomb \letter-bomb\ v. t.
   to send a letter-bomb to.
   [WordNet 1.5]

from Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003)

letterbomb


   1. n. A piece of {email} containing {live data} intended to do
   nefarious things to the recipient's machine or terminal. It used to be
   possible, for example, to send letterbombs that would lock up some
   specific kinds of terminals when they are viewed, so thoroughly that
   the user must cycle power (see {cycle}, sense 3) to unwedge them.
   Under Unix, a letterbomb can also try to get part of its contents
   interpreted as a shell command to the mailer. The results of this
   could range from silly to tragic; fortunately it has been some years
   since any of the standard Unix/Internet mail software was vulnerable
   to such an attack (though, as the Melissa virus attack demonstrated in
   early 1999, Microsoft systems can have serious problems). See also
   {Trojan horse}; compare {nastygram}.

   2. Loosely, a {mailbomb}.

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

letterbomb

   <messaging> 1. An {e-mail} message containing {live data}
   intended to do nefarious things to the recipient's computer or
   terminal.  It is possible, for example, to send letterbombs
   that will lock up some specific kinds of terminals when they
   are viewed, so thoroughly that the user must turn the terminal
   off to unwedge it.  Under {Unix}, a letterbomb can also try to
   get part of its contents interpreted as a shell command.  The
   results of this could range from silly to tragic.

   See also {Trojan horse}; compare {nastygram}, {talk bomb}.

   2. Loosely, a {mailbomb}.

   [{Jargon File}]

   (1998-01-16)