What characteristic describes a virus?
- a network device that filters access and traffic coming into a network
- the use of stolen credentials to access private data
- an attack that slows or crashes a device or network service
- malicious software or code running on an end device
Explanation: A virus is a specific type of malware defined as malicious software or code running on an end device, such as a computer, laptop, or mobile phone. Unlike standalone threats, a virus typically propagates by inserting a copy of itself into another program or executable file and remains dormant until a user runs that host file. Once activated, the virus can spread to other systems through network transfers, file sharing, or email attachments, potentially causing damage ranging from minor annoyances to the total destruction of data and system functionality. This distinguishes viruses from other security concepts, such as firewalls which are hardware or software filters, or denial of service attacks which focus on overwhelming network resources.
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