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In Internet terminology, a worm refers to a(n) ________.

A) email program created not for communication but to lure spam
B) software program that attracts malicious attacks in order to study their properties and origins
C) self-replicating program that sends copies to other nodes on a computer network
D) software tool used to inspect incoming and outgoing traffic to a computer network

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Final answer:

Option C is answer. A worm refers to a self-replicating program that sends copies to other nodes on a computer network. They can exploit vulnerabilities in computer systems and rapidly infect other computers on a network.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Internet terminology, a worm refers to a self-replicating program that sends copies to other nodes on a computer network. Unlike viruses, worms do not require a host or a user action to spread. They can exploit vulnerabilities in computer systems and rapidly infect other computers on a network.

For example, the famous worm called the Morris Worm, created by Robert Tappan Morris in 1988, spread through the early Internet by exploiting weaknesses in the Unix operating system. It replicated itself, causing network congestion and system crashes.

Worms can cause significant damage, disrupt network operations, and compromise data security. Therefore, it is important to have robust security measures in place, such as firewalls and antivirus software, to protect against worm attacks.

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