Which virus type is known for its ability to constantly change its appearance to evade detection?

Prepare for the CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) exam. Enhance your skills with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each with explanations. Excel in your certification!

The polymorphic virus is known for its ability to constantly change its appearance in order to evade detection by antivirus software. This type of virus uses sophisticated techniques to alter its code every time it infects a new system or replicates, making it difficult for signature-based antivirus programs to recognize it. By modifying its signature, the polymorphic virus can bypass many traditional detection methods that rely on identifying known patterns or signatures of malicious code.

Polymorphic viruses achieve this by using a variety of techniques, including encryption and altering the original code. Each new generation of the virus has a different variant, which allows it to spread widely while remaining undetected for longer periods of time. This adaptability makes polymorphic viruses particularly challenging for cybersecurity professionals, as they must implement advanced detection methods to spot these ever-changing threats.

Other types of viruses, such as stealth, encrypted, and boot sector viruses, do not exhibit the same level of adaptive behavior as polymorphic viruses. Stealth viruses hide their presence by intercepting requests to read files and providing clean versions of themselves, while encrypted viruses may use encryption to conceal their payload but do not constantly change their code in the same way. Boot sector viruses, on the other hand, target the boot sector of storage devices and are

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