What is a key advantage of a boot sector virus?

A significant advantage of a boot sector virus is its ability to re-infect the system each time it boots up. This type of malware embeds itself in the boot sector of storage devices, particularly floppy disks, hard drives, or solid-state drives. When the system starts, it executes the code from the boot sector before the operating system loads. As a result, every time the computer is powered on, the malware is activated, maintaining its presence in the system.

This persistent nature allows the virus to remain in control even after attempts to remove it, especially if the virus infects not just the current operating system but also the storage media itself. Because of its foundational position in the boot process, a boot sector virus can undermine other security measures and complicate the cleanup process, as it circumvents the typical operating system defense mechanisms that would usually protect against malware in active use. This characteristic makes boot sector viruses particularly insidious and challenging to eradicate.