What is a characteristic of overwriting viruses?

Overwriting viruses are characterized by their ability to replace the original files they infect with their own malicious code. When an overwriting virus infects a program or file, it essentially strips away the existing data and replaces it entirely with its own code. This means that the original data is lost and cannot be recovered, as the overwriting process modifies the file directly.

This characteristic makes overwriting viruses particularly damaging because, unlike other types of malware that might leave the original file intact or replicate themselves across systems, overwriting viruses ensure that the infected program or file becomes unusable in its original form. This method of attack focuses on data loss, which can have significant implications for users and organizations who might rely on the affected files.

In contrast, some other characteristics of viruses might include taking advantage of external software, displaying messages as a distraction, or activating under specific circumstances, but these do not specifically define the fundamental nature of overwriting viruses.