If a program writes more information into the computer's memory than the memory was designed to hold, it is a(n) attack

Buffer-overflow.

Explanation:

If a program writes more information into the computer's memory than the memory was designed to hold, it is a buffer-overflow attack.

A buffer in computer technology can be defined as a temporary area set aside for data storage. Buffers reside in the random access memory (RAM). In the event that, a system process or program places more data (much more than what was originally or initially intended to be allocated for data storage) in a buffer, the extra data overflows. Consequently, this would result in having some of the data to flow into other buffers and thus, causing the data to be overwritten or corruption of the data being held in that buffer.

For instance, we can liken a buffer-overflow to pouring water (data) into a container (program memory), once it is filled the water begins to overflow as the container has reached its maximum amount.

In a buffer-overflow attack, the hacker or attacker use the extra data to influence certain unauthorized actions such as getting privy informations, damaging a file, compromising a data, corrupting a software program etc.

The common types of buffer-overflow attacks are;

1. Heap-overflow attack.

2. Stack-overflow attack.

3. Unicode-overflow attack.

4. Integer-overflow attack.

In conclusion, the buffer-overflow attack could be prevented through the randomization of the address space.