Buffer overflow prevention involves techniques to protect computer programs from vulnerabilities that occur when data exceeds a buffer's storage capacity. This can lead to unexpected behavior, including crashes or security breaches. Common methods include using safe programming languages, implementing bounds checking, and employing memory protection mechanisms. Another effective strategy is the use of Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR), which randomizes memory addresses to make it harder for attackers to predict where to inject malicious code. Additionally, Data Execution Prevention (DEP) marks certain areas of memory as non-executable, further reducing the risk of exploitation from buffer overflow attacks.