Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: False
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This item tests conceptual understanding of what a computer virus is and where it can reside. Early viruses spread via diskettes, but storage medium restrictions are a misconception; viruses are software that can exist on many writable media and within files or boot sectors.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
A virus is malicious code that attaches to hosts (executables, documents with macros, boot records). Its persistence depends on write access and execution, not on whether the medium is a diskette or a hard disk. If code can be written and executed or loaded during boot, a virus can persist there.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Verification / Alternative check:
Historical evidence: boot-sector viruses (e.g., Michelangelo era) infected hard disks and diskettes alike by modifying boot records or executable files loaded by the OS.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Common Pitfalls:
Final Answer:
False
Discussion & Comments