Information Technology Specialist (ITS) Cybersecurity 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

A computer malware code that replicates itself on the target computer and spreads through the network is referred to as a worm. Worms are designed to exploit vulnerabilities in software or network protocols to propagate themselves without the need for human intervention or a host program. They can take advantage of flaws in operating systems or software applications to enter a computer system, then can copy themselves and send those copies to other computers over a network.

In contrast, other types of malware do not have the same self-replicating characteristics. Spyware is primarily intended to gather information from the user without their knowledge, typically collecting sensitive data such as personal information or browsing habits. A Trojan horse disguises itself as legitimate software, tricking users into executing it, while it may not replicate itself or spread on its own. A virus, although it can also replicate itself, typically attaches itself to a host file and requires user action to propagate, differentiating it from the self-sufficient nature of worms. Thus, the defining feature of a worm is its ability to independently spread and replicate across networks, making it the correct answer.