What is the primary difference between a worm and a virus in terms of replication?

The primary difference between a worm and a virus in terms of replication is that a worm is designed to replicate itself independently and spread across networks without needing to attach to a host file, whereas a virus requires a host program to replicate and cannot spread on its own.

Worms can infiltrate systems, exploit vulnerabilities, and replicate across various devices and networks often using methods such as email or network connections to propagate. In contrast, viruses need to embed themselves in executable files or documents before they can replicate and spread, relying on user actions (like opening a file) to do so.

The chosen answer suggests that a worm cannot replicate, which is not accurate, as worms are characterized precisely by their ability to replicate independently. The correct understanding of how worms and viruses function highlights the worm's autonomous replication and rapid spreading capabilities, setting them apart from viruses in terms of their propagation methods.