Which type of error is indicated by a memory leak?

A memory leak signifies a situation where a program allocates memory for use but fails to release it back to the system after use. This unchecked consumption of memory can lead to a gradual increase in the amount of memory being utilized by the application, leaving less memory available for other processes. As a result, this can cause performance degradation, manifesting in slower system response times, lag in application performance, or even system crashes if the memory usage becomes excessive.

While other options pertain to different aspects of computer system issues—such as data transmission, authentication processes, or file system management—they do not directly relate to the concept of memory leaks. Thus, performance degradation is the most fitting characteristic associated with the implications of a memory leak, as it accurately describes the impact on system behavior. The option captures the essence of the problem caused by memory leaks and highlights a key area of concern for system performance and stability.