Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

Which type of virus specifically targets the boot sector of a hard drive?

1. Boot sector virus

2. Cavity virus

3. Macro virus

4. Multipartite virus

The correct answer is: Boot sector virus

The type of virus that specifically targets the boot sector of a hard drive is known as a boot sector virus. This type of virus infects the area of a hard drive that contains the essential code for booting the operating system. By embedding itself in the boot sector, the virus can execute its code before the operating system loads, which allows it to take control and potentially spread to other systems or cause damage before security measures come into play. Boot sector viruses often propagate when a user boots from an infected disk or by transferring files from an infected system. Their persistent nature makes them particularly harmful, as they can remain on the system without the user's knowledge, leading to challenges in detection and removal. Other types of viruses listed, such as cavity viruses, macro viruses, and multipartite viruses, target different aspects of computer systems. Cavity viruses can insert themselves into files without increasing their size, macro viruses exploit application software through scripts, and multipartite viruses utilize multiple methods of infection. However, none of these specifically focus on controlling the boot process like a boot sector virus does.