mediumMultiple SelectObjective-mapped
200-201 Practice Question: A security analyst is investigating a host that…
A security analyst is investigating a host that may have been compromised via a drive-by download. Which three indicators of compromise should the analyst look for in the host's logs and artifacts?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between host-based and network-based indicators, and the trap here is that candidates confuse web server logs (network-based) with host-based artifacts, or they assume that any post-exploitation action like adding an admin user is a direct indicator of the initial compromise vector rather than a later persistence step.
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
✓
Unusual outbound network connections
A drive-by download typically exploits a browser or plugin vulnerability to silently execute code on the host. Once compromised, the malware often establishes command-and-control (C2) communication, which manifests as unusual outbound network connections to suspicious IP addresses or domains on non-standard ports (e.g., TCP 4444, 8080). Analyzing netstat output or firewall logs for unexpected outbound traffic is a primary indicator of such post-exploitation activity.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Unusual outbound network connections
Why this is correct
Malware often communicates with C2 servers.
- ✓
Modified system files in %SystemRoot%\System32
Why this is correct
Malware may replace or modify system files to evade detection.
- ✗
A new user account added to the local Administrators group
Why it's wrong here
Adding a user is more typical of lateral movement, not initial drive-by download.
- ✗
A large number of 404 errors in the web server log
Why it's wrong here
Web server logs are not host-based artifacts.
- ✓
Presence of a scheduled task that runs an unknown executable
Why this is correct
Scheduled tasks are common persistence mechanisms.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every 200-201 question from scratch — 979 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 200-201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-201 exam.