Which type of malware typically replicates itself to spread to other devices?

• A. Trojan
• B. Virus
• C. Worm
• D. Adware

Answer: (C)

A worm is a type of malware that is designed to replicate itself in order to spread to other devices. Unlike viruses, which require a host program to operate and spread, worms can send copies of themselves across networks without needing any user interaction or host application. This self-replicating behavior allows worms to propagate quickly and often leads to widespread infection across computer networks.

In contrast, while a virus also can spread from device to device, it requires the user to execute an infected program, hence it relies on interaction. Trojans do not replicate themselves at all; they are disguised as legitimate software to trick users into installing them. Adware primarily focuses on delivering advertisements and may track user behavior, but it does not have self-replicating capabilities. Thus, the defining characteristic of a worm is its ability to autonomously replicate and disseminate, which makes it the correct answer in this context.