200-201 Host-Based Analysis Practice Question
An analyst is analyzing a suspicious PE file. The file's entropy is high (close to 8.0), and the section names appear random. What does this likely indicate?
⚠ Common exam trap
200-201 often tests the association between high entropy and packing/encryption. Candidates may confuse entropy with digital signatures or compilation artifacts. The key is to remember that entropy measures randomness, and packed/encrypted files exhibit high randomness.
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
✓
The file is likely packed or encrypted.
High entropy close to 8.0 indicates that the data is highly random, which is characteristic of packed or encrypted content. Malware authors use packers and crypters to compress and encrypt the executable, making static analysis difficult. Random section names further suggest that the PE file has been modified by a packer, as legitimate compilers typically produce meaningful section names like .text and .data.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
The file is likely packed or encrypted.
Why this is correct
Entropy near 8.0 indicates near-random byte distribution, and randomised section names are typical of packers. Legitimate compiled code shows lower entropy with recognisable section names like .text, so packing or encryption is the likely explanation.
- ✗
The file is a script compiled to an executable.
Why it's wrong here
Compiled scripts typically produce normal section names and moderate entropy, not randomised names with entropy near 8.0; that pattern indicates packing or encryption. Script-to-executable converters are relevant when analysing interpreted code bundled into a PE, but they do not randomise section names or compress content to maximum entropy.
- ✗
The file is a legitimate Windows system file.
Why it's wrong here
Legitimate Windows system files typically show structured section names such as .text and .rdata, with moderate entropy rather than values approaching 8.0. High entropy with randomised section names indicates packing or encryption. Signed Microsoft binaries are the scenario where this option would hold, since their sections remain readable and named conventionally.
- ✗
The file has been digitally signed.
Why it's wrong here
Digital signatures are recorded in the certificate table and do not raise section entropy or randomise section names; packed or encrypted code does. It is tempting because signing implies trustworthiness. A signed binary is the correct interpretation when the certificate table validates against a trusted publisher and sections retain normal names.
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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
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.