Which statement about Linux hardware drivers is correct?

The correct statement highlights the fundamental nature of how Linux handles hardware drivers. In Linux, drivers can either be compiled directly into the kernel, which means they become part of the core system and are loaded at boot, or they can be loaded as kernel modules. Kernel modules are separate pieces of code that can be loaded or unloaded from memory while the system is running, allowing for flexibility and the addition of drivers without needing to reboot the machine. This approach helps streamline the management of hardware drivers, making it easier for users and system administrators to maintain and update systems with a variety of hardware configurations.

The other statements do not accurately represent the typical behavior of drivers in a Linux environment. Some drivers can indeed be installed automatically with the right distribution, and while it's good practice to keep drivers up-to-date, they do not necessarily need to be updated individually since some updates can roll through kernel updates that address multiple drivers at once. Additionally, drivers are not exclusive to certain distributions; they are a necessary part of all Linux systems that interact with hardware.