CompTIA Network+ Practice Test

The defining characteristic that distinguishes a worm from a virus is that a worm can spread without any human intervention. Worms do not require a host program to execute or replicate. Instead, they can independently exploit vulnerabilities within a network or operating system to propagate themselves from one device to another. This ability to autonomously spread and multiply across networks is what makes worms particularly concerning in cybersecurity, as they can quickly saturate systems without any user action.

In contrast, viruses need some form of user engagement, such as opening an infected file or executing a malicious program, in order to replicate and spread. Therefore, the autonomous nature of worms is not just a technical detail but a fundamental operational difference from viruses, emphasizing how they can pose a more significant threat in certain environments.