Which of the following describes a computer program designed to infiltrate and damage a computer without user interaction?

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A computer program designed to infiltrate and damage a computer without user interaction is best described as malware. Malware, which stands for malicious software, encompasses a wide range of harmful programs, including viruses, worms, trojans, and ransomware, that can infect and compromise the security of a system. The key characteristic of malware is that it can operate autonomously, performing actions like data theft, system destruction, or unauthorized access without requiring the user to initiate any action.

The other options represent specific concepts or attack vectors. Cross-site scripting refers to a web security vulnerability that allows an attacker to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by users. This typically relies on user interaction to execute the attack. A buffer overflow is a type of programming error that can lead to vulnerabilities, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code, but it still relies on specific conditions within a program to exploit. Man-In-The-Middle (MITM) attacks involve an attacker intercepting communication between two parties, which generally requires active involvement from the attacker and user interaction at some point.

Therefore, malware is the most comprehensive term that captures the essence of a harmful program that can operate independently to cause damage.

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