Which category of malware triggers based on a time-based condition, such as a calendar date?

Which category of malware triggers based on a time-based condition, such as a calendar date?

• A. Logic bomb
• B. Web scripting virus
• C. Metamorphic viruses
• D. Time bombs

Answer: (D)

Time-based activation is a trigger where malware sits idle until a specific date or time, then launches its payload. That behavior defines time bombs, a subtype of malware that detonates on a calendar date or clock time. A logic bomb is a broader idea: any malicious payload that triggers when a condition is met, which can be time-based but isn’t limited to it. Metamorphic viruses focus on changing their own code to evade detection, not on timing their execution. Web scripting viruses spread via malicious scripts in web content, and timing isn’t their defining feature. So, the time-based trigger described in the question points to time bombs as the best fit.

Time-based activation is a trigger where malware sits idle until a specific date or time, then launches its payload. That behavior defines time bombs, a subtype of malware that detonates on a calendar date or clock time. A logic bomb is a broader idea: any malicious payload that triggers when a condition is met, which can be time-based but isn’t limited to it. Metamorphic viruses focus on changing their own code to evade detection, not on timing their execution. Web scripting viruses spread via malicious scripts in web content, and timing isn’t their defining feature. So, the time-based trigger described in the question points to time bombs as the best fit.