Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

What is the type of virus that only operates during the execution of its host program?

1. Transient virus

2. Boot sector virus

3. Macro virus

4. Polyform virus

The correct answer is: Transient virus

The type of virus that only operates during the execution of its host program is known as a transient virus. This kind of virus attaches itself to a specific executable file and becomes active only when that file is run. When the host program is executed, the transient virus is also executed, allowing it to carry out its malicious actions within the memory of the system. Transient viruses are distinct because they do not reside on the system’s hard drive, which differentiates them from other types of viruses such as boot sector viruses, which infect the master boot record of a storage device and can activate when the computer is booted up, and macro viruses, which specifically target applications like Microsoft Office documents and activate once those documents are opened. Polyform viruses, on the other hand, are capable of changing their form and may exhibit behavior similar to polymorphic viruses but are not primarily characterized by the execution dependency on their host programs. Understanding the specific behavior of transient viruses is crucial for implementing effective security measures, as they can often be harder to detect due to their temporary nature and reliance on the host program.