What type of malware is specifically designed to replicate itself and spread to other systems?

The type of malware specifically designed to replicate itself and spread to other systems is a worm. Unlike a virus, which requires a host file to spread and usually needs human intervention to activate (such as opening a file), a worm is capable of independently exploiting vulnerabilities in network protocols or systems. It propagates without the need for a host program, making it particularly dangerous because it can spread rapidly across networks, infecting multiple machines without user action. This autonomous nature is a defining characteristic that distinguishes worms from other types of malware like Trojans, which disguise themselves to trick users, or adware, which typically delivers unwanted advertisements rather than focusing on replication and spreading.