Explain the roles of payload, replication mechanism, trigger, and obfuscation in a virus.

### What a good answer covers - The **payload** is the action the virus is designed to perform, such as deleting files or stealing data. - The **replication mechanism** enables copies to spread to other files or systems. - The **trigger** is a condition or event that causes the payload to run, such as a date or user action. - **Obfuscation** conceals the virus or makes its code harder to recognize, for example through polymorphic changes. ### The concept These components describe different jobs and should not be treated as synonyms. Replication helps the virus propagate; the payload causes the intended harm; the trigger controls timing; obfuscation helps evade detection. A virus may infect and replicate before its payload activates. ### Terms - **Payload**: The part of malware that performs its intended harmful action. - **Replication mechanism**: Code or a process that makes copies of malware. - **Trigger**: A condition that activates a payload. - **Obfuscation**: Techniques that make code or behaviour harder to recognize. ### Remember Ask four separate questions: what it does, how it copies, when it acts, and how it hides.