Which type of malware is designed to replicate itself and spread to other systems?

The type of malware designed to replicate itself and spread to other systems is a worm. Worms are a specific category of malware that can create copies of themselves without requiring user intervention. They typically exploit vulnerabilities in network protocols or software to propagate across networks, making them particularly dangerous as they can lead to widespread damage and resource depletion.

In contrast to other types of malware, such as Trojan horses that disguise themselves as legitimate software to deceive users, or spyware and adware that focus on collecting data or displaying unwanted advertisements, worms are characterized primarily by their autonomous capability to spread. This autonomous replication and dissemination is what sets worms apart in the landscape of cybersecurity threats.