What function do multi-partite viruses combine?

Multi-partite viruses are advanced forms of malware that possess characteristics of both file viruses and boot sector viruses. This means they can infect both executable files and the boot sector of a hard drive, allowing them to spread and execute their malicious code in multiple ways.

By targeting files, a multi-partite virus can infect applications and spread through shared files, while its boot sector capabilities enable it to affect the system at startup. This dual functionality makes multi-partite viruses particularly dangerous as they can remain effective even if the infected files are removed; the virus can still execute from the boot sector.

Other choices focus on different aspects of malware. Options related to encryption, network spreading, and remote execution highlight specific functionalities, but they do not accurately represent the dual nature of multi-partite viruses, which is primarily the combination of file and boot virus behaviors.