Which type of virus deletes or overwrites information on a file?

The type of virus that specifically deletes or overwrites information on a file is referred to as an overwrite virus. These viruses are designed with the intention of modifying or completely erasing the existing data in files, which can lead to data loss and compromise system integrity.

Overwrite viruses can be particularly damaging because they not only alter the original content but also impede recovery efforts, as the original data is often irretrievable after the virus has executed its actions. This characteristic distinguishes them from other types of viruses that may replicate or spread without necessarily causing the same level of immediate data loss.

Multi-partite viruses, on the other hand, combine characteristics of both file infectors and boot sector viruses but do not inherently focus on overwriting existing data. Polymorphic viruses are also different as they are designed to change their code to evade detection, rather than to alter or delete files. Resident viruses can instead embed themselves into the memory of a system, allowing them to infect files without directly overwriting or deleting content.

Thus, the overwrite virus is specifically engineered to modify or destroy file contents, making it the correct choice in this context.