What type of malware is specifically designed to replicate and spread to other systems?

The correct choice is a type of malware known for its ability to replicate itself and automatically spread from one system to another without requiring additional human intervention. Worms are standalone malicious programs that exploit vulnerabilities in network protocols or software to propagate across connected systems. This capability allows them to spread rapidly through networks, often consuming bandwidth and resources as they infect multiple devices.

In contrast, while viruses can also replicate, they generally require a host program or user action to activate and spread. Spyware focuses on gathering information from users without their knowledge and does not inherently spread to other systems. Trojan horses disguise themselves as legitimate software to trick users into executing them but do not replicate or spread on their own. Therefore, when discussing malware specifically designed for self-replication and self-propagation, it is clear that the worm is the appropriate classification.