Final answer:
The answer is C) Executable files, which run faster and provide code privacy as they are already compiled into machine language, unlike scripts, batch files or configuration files.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question is C) Executable files. Compiled executable files are known to run faster than scripts or batch files because they are already translated into machine language, which the hardware can execute directly.
This process also provides a layer of code privacy, because the original source code is not easily observable within the executable. Batch files and scripts are typically not compiled; they are interpreted, which means that they are read and executed line by line, which is a slower process and one that usually exposes the source code. Configuration files are not executable but are used to set up the parameters for software and operating systems.