Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Guide to Mastering Your Certification!

A stealth virus is specifically designed to hide its presence from the operating system and antivirus software. It achieves this by intercepting requests to read the infected files or system areas and provides false information instead, making it seem as though those files are uninfected. This stealthy behavior allows the virus to evade detection and continue to infect more files or systems without being noticed, thus posing a significant threat to system integrity and security.

The other types of viruses listed in the choices do not embody the characteristics of a stealth virus. For instance, a virus that replicates itself while being visible doesn't employ tactics to avoid detection and may be identified more easily. A virus that spreads through email attachments emphasizes propagation rather than concealment. Finally, a virus that destroys files upon detection is inherently aggressive and counterproductive to its goal of stealth since its operation is overt once detected. This distinction is vital for understanding the behavior of different types of viruses and the risks they pose.