What is a self-replicating program that copies itself by attaching to other executable code and runs without user consent?

What is a self-replicating program that copies itself by attaching to other executable code and runs without user consent?

• A. Infection Phase
• B. Attack Phase
• C. Trojan Proxy
• D. Virus

Answer: (D)

A self-replicating program that copies itself by attaching to other executable code and runs without user consent is a virus. Viruses embed their code into host programs, so when the infected program is executed, the virus runs and then copies itself into other executables to continue spreading. This stealthy propagation and execution without explicit user permission are hallmark traits of a virus, which distinguishes it from other malware ideas. The other terms describe different concepts: infection phase and attack phase refer to stages or generic concepts in malware lifecycles rather than a specific self-replicating threat, and a Trojan Proxy describes a Trojan that hides within legitimate software or uses a proxy tactic but does not inherently replicate itself by attaching to other code.

A self-replicating program that copies itself by attaching to other executable code and runs without user consent is a virus. Viruses embed their code into host programs, so when the infected program is executed, the virus runs and then copies itself into other executables to continue spreading. This stealthy propagation and execution without explicit user permission are hallmark traits of a virus, which distinguishes it from other malware ideas. The other terms describe different concepts: infection phase and attack phase refer to stages or generic concepts in malware lifecycles rather than a specific self-replicating threat, and a Trojan Proxy describes a Trojan that hides within legitimate software or uses a proxy tactic but does not inherently replicate itself by attaching to other code.