200-201 Host-Based Analysis Practice Question
An analyst is examining a Linux system for signs of an attacker establishing persistence. Which TWO of the following locations should the analyst check? (Choose two.)
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
✓
/etc/systemd/system/
Common persistence mechanisms on Linux include cron jobs and systemd services. Bash history only records commands, not persistence. /proc is a virtual filesystem. /etc/passwd lists users but doesn't directly show persistence.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
/etc/passwd
Why it's wrong here
/etc/passwd lists user accounts but not persistence directly.
- ✗
/proc/self/status
Why it's wrong here
/proc is a virtual filesystem for running processes, not persistence.
- ✓
/etc/systemd/system/
Why this is correct
Correct. Systemd services can be used for persistence.
- ✓
/etc/crontab
Why this is correct
Correct. Cron jobs can run malicious scripts at scheduled times.
- ✗
/home/user/.bash_history
Why it's wrong here
Bash history records commands, not persistence mechanisms.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
One of 979 original 200-201 practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. 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.