What is one possible effect of a computer worm?

A computer worm is a type of malware specifically designed to replicate itself and spread to other computers, often without requiring any actions from the user. One significant effect of a computer worm is its ability to spread rapidly across networks. This rapid proliferation can lead to various adverse consequences, including overwhelming network traffic, consuming system resources, and causing significant damage to both individual systems and entire networks.

Unlike other types of malware, such as viruses, worms can propagate independently and do not need to attach themselves to existing programs or rely on user actions to spread. This characteristic enables them to disseminate quickly and widely, leading to increased vulnerabilities and potential data loss or corruption. As a result, dealing with a worm often necessitates extensive remediation efforts, which can disrupt operations and incur further costs for organizations.

While other options—like enhancing system performance or providing automatic updates—are beneficial characteristics of software, they do not apply in the context of a worm. A worm's nature is fundamentally disruptive, making the possibility of spreading rapidly and causing system damage a defining trait.