200-201 Security Concepts Practice Question
A security analyst discovers that an employee's computer is infected with malware that encrypts files and demands payment. What type of malware is this?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse ransomware with other malware types that also cause damage or steal data, but only ransomware combines file encryption with a payment demand.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Ransomware
Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts files on a victim's system and demands payment (often in cryptocurrency) for the decryption key. The scenario explicitly describes file encryption and a payment demand, which are the defining characteristics of ransomware. Unlike other malware types, ransomware's primary goal is extortion through data denial, not stealth or data theft.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Spyware
Why it's wrong here
Spyware covertly collects user activity, keystrokes or credentials and forwards them to an attacker; it does not encrypt files or demand payment. It is tempting because it is stealthy and persistent, but it would be correct when the symptom is surveillance and data exfiltration, not extortion.
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Worm
Why it's wrong here
A worm self-propagates across networks by exploiting vulnerabilities, without encrypting files or demanding payment. It is tempting because worms spread rapidly and cause disruption, but it would be correct when the observed behaviour is autonomous lateral replication rather than file encryption with a ransom note.
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Ransomware
Why this is correct
Ransomware encrypts victim files and demands payment for the decryption key, matching the stem's description exactly. Unlike worms, which self-propagate across networks, or trojans, which disguise themselves as legitimate software, ransomware's defining mechanism is cryptographic extortion of data access.
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Rootkit
Why it's wrong here
A rootkit hides malicious processes and grants privileged persistence; it does not itself encrypt files or demand payment. It is tempting because it conceals attacker activity, but it would be correct when the evidence is concealed system-level compromise rather than ransom-driven encryption.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
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