Click here

snake oil

Refers to a cryptography or security product that makes exaggerated claims of what the product is capable of, giving the user a false sense of security. The term snake oil, which is credited to Matt Curtin for using in reference to computer security products, comes from the 19th-century American practice of selling cure-all elixirs in traveling medicine shows. Snake oil salesmen would falsely claim that the potions would cure any ailments. The term has been appropriated to mean security and encryption products that make impossible claims, such as unbreakable codes.



Top Terms

Connect with Webopedia

  • The Difference Between Adware & Spyware

    Not technically fitting into either the virus or spam category we have spyware and adware, which are growing concerns for Internet users.

    Read More »

Did You Know? Archive »

  • Quick Reference Archive »