What is a defining feature of a worm?

A worm is defined by its ability to self-replicate and spread across networks without requiring user intervention. This characteristic allows it to exploit vulnerabilities in other devices or systems autonomously, often leading to significant slowdowns in performance as it consumes bandwidth and system resources. Worms can proliferate rapidly, which is why they can be particularly dangerous, often infecting numerous systems in a short period.

The emphasis on self-replication distinguishes worms from other types of malware, such as viruses, which typically require some action from the user to activate and spread. This automatic nature of worms makes them a unique threat in the realm of cybersecurity, highlighting the importance of robust network security measures to prevent their spread and mitigate their impact on systems.