How does a worm differ from a traditional computer virus?

A worm differs from a traditional computer virus primarily in its propagation method. While both are types of malware, a worm is designed to replicate itself and spread independently across networks without the need for a host program. This ability to self-replicate and transfer itself to other systems via network connections is what sets it apart from viruses, which typically attach themselves to host files and require user action—such as opening a file or running a program—to spread.

In contrast to option B, the other choices present characteristics not aligned with the behavior of worms. A worm does not need to be contained within a single file (as suggested in the first option), nor does it rely on user actions for distribution (as suggested in the third option). Additionally, the nature of a worm does not specifically target only database files, which is addressed in the last option. Therefore, the ability to copy itself across networks is the distinguishing factor that accurately defines how a worm operates compared to traditional computer viruses.