easyMultiple Choice
200-201 Practice Question: Which type of malware is designed to spread…
Which type of malware is designed to spread automatically across networks without user interaction?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between a virus and a worm, where the trap is that candidates confuse 'self-replicating' with 'requires a host file,' leading them to incorrectly choose virus instead of worm for autonomous network spread.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Worm
A worm is a standalone malware program that replicates itself to spread to other computers over a network, often exploiting vulnerabilities without any user intervention. Unlike viruses, worms do not require a host file or user action to propagate, making them capable of rapid, automated spread across networks.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Ransomware
Why it's wrong here
Ransomware encrypts files and demands payment; it does not self-propagate, instead arriving via phishing, exploits or manual deployment. It is tempting because ransomware outbreaks can affect many hosts, but that spread is usually orchestrated by attackers or worms, not ransomware itself, which lacks autonomous network replication.
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Virus
Why it's wrong here
A virus requires a host file and user action, such as executing an infected attachment, to replicate; it cannot self-propagate across a network unaided. It is tempting because viruses do spread between systems, but that transmission depends on human execution, whereas a worm propagates autonomously through network vulnerabilities.
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Trojan
Why it's wrong here
A Trojan disguises itself as legitimate software and relies on a user installing and running it; it has no self-replication mechanism. It is tempting because Trojans often download further payloads, yet that still requires initial user execution, unlike a worm, which spreads automatically without interaction.
- ✓
Worm
Why this is correct
Worms self-replicate and propagate across networks by exploiting vulnerabilities in services and protocols, requiring no user action such as opening attachments or clicking links. This autonomous spreading mechanism directly satisfies the stem's constraint of automatic network-wide distribution without interaction.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 200-201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-201 exam.