Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Cybersecurity Practice Test

What is a self-replicating virus that resides in active memory and duplicates itself?

1. Rootkit

2. Trojan Horse

3. Worm

4. Adware

The correct answer is: Worm

A self-replicating virus that resides in active memory and duplicates itself is best described as a worm. Worms are a type of malware that can spread independently by exploiting security vulnerabilities in software or operating systems. They replicate themselves across networks without needing to attach to an existing program or file, unlike other types of malware. In the context of cybersecurity, worms often exploit vulnerabilities in systems to propagate themselves, allowing them to spread rapidly from one system to another once they gain access to a network. This makes them particularly dangerous, as they can cause extensive damage by consuming bandwidth and causing system slowdowns or failures. This definition distinguishes a worm from other types of malware. A rootkit, for example, is designed to hide the presence of certain processes or programs from normal methods of detection, while a Trojan Horse misleads users into thinking it is a legitimate application. Adware, on the other hand, generates revenue for its creator by automatically delivering advertisements, usually without recourse to the self-replicating behavior characteristic of worms. Thus, worms are uniquely identified by their ability to self-replicate in memory and spread autonomously.