200-201 Host-Based Analysis Practice Question
An analyst is examining a suspicious executable file. The file has a .pdf extension but the magic bytes are 'MZ'. Which THREE indicators suggest the file is malicious?
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 imports functions like URLDownloadToFile
Magic bytes MZ indicate PE, high entropy suggests packing, suspicious imports (e.g., URLDownloadToFile) are common in malware.
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 imports functions like URLDownloadToFile
Why this is correct
Correct. Network-related imports are common in malware.
- ✗
The file has a valid Authenticode signature
Why it's wrong here
A valid signature suggests the file is signed by a trusted publisher, reducing suspicion.
- ✓
The file extension does not match the magic bytes
Why this is correct
Correct. Extension mismatch is a red flag.
- ✗
The file has a low entropy value (e.g., 2.5)
Why it's wrong here
Low entropy suggests uncompressed data; malware often uses high entropy packing.
- ✓
The file has a high entropy value (e.g., 7.8)
Why this is correct
Correct. High entropy indicates packing or encryption.
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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.