Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) Practice Exam

The term that best describes a self-replicating program that may cause damage to systems is indeed a worm. Worms are distinct from other types of malicious software due to their ability to replicate themselves and propagate across networks without needing to attach to a host program or require user action to spread.

While viruses also replicate and can cause damage, they do so by attaching themselves to host files or programs and relying on user actions to propagate, making their spread dependent on human behavior. Malware is a broader category that encompasses all malicious software, including viruses, worms, and Trojans, but it does not specifically refer to the self-replicating aspect. Trojans, on the other hand, are deceptive programs that appear legitimate but can perform harmful actions; they do not replicate themselves.

Thus, the self-replicating nature of worms and their capability to cause damage clearly distinguishes them from viruses, Trojans, and malware as terms, making worm the most fitting choice.