ITPEC FE Morning October 2021 Question 39
Which of the following is a type of malware that embeds itself within a program and inserts its copy into other programs?
Explanation
Virus — malware that attaches itself to a host program and spreads by inserting copies of itself into other programs.
A virus cannot run on its own: it runs when its infected host program runs, and then infects further programs or files. That need for a host is what separates it from other malware.
Answer (c)
Why not others:
- •(a) Backdoor — a hidden way into a system that bypasses normal authentication; it does not copy itself into programs
- •(b) Trojan horse — disguises itself as a legitimate program and does not replicate
- •(d) Worm — replicates, but as an independent program that spreads over the network without a host program
Key rule: A virus needs a host program, a worm spreads by itself, and a Trojan horse relies on disguise instead of replication.
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