200-201 Host-Based Analysis Practice Question
An analyst is investigating a Windows system for potential malware persistence. The analyst discovers a scheduled task that runs a PowerShell script every hour. The script downloads and executes a payload from a remote server. Which of the following Windows artifacts would BEST provide the original creation time and the author of this scheduled task?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse the task scheduler operational log with the task definition file; the log records execution events, not creation metadata.
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
✓
C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\<TaskName>
The scheduled task definition file in C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\ contains an XML representation that includes metadata such as the task's creation time and author. This is the most direct artifact for determining the origin of a suspicious scheduled task, as it is written when the task is created.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
C:\Windows\Tasks\<TaskName>
Why it's wrong here
This path does not exist by default in modern Windows; scheduled task definitions are stored in C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\. The incorrect path would lead the analyst to miss the actual task file and its metadata, wasting time and potentially overlooking evidence.
- ✓
C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\<TaskName>
Why this is correct
This file stores the XML definition of the scheduled task, including its creation time, author, and actions. It is the authoritative source for the task's configuration and metadata. Analyzing this file can reveal when and by whom the task was created, which is crucial for determining if it is malicious.
- ✗
C:\Windows\System32\winevt\Logs\Microsoft-Windows-TaskScheduler%4Operational.evtx
Why it's wrong here
This event log records task scheduler operational events, such as task start and completion, but it does not store the original creation time or author of the task. It can show when the task ran, but not who created it or when it was defined. Therefore, it is not the best source for the requested information.
- ✗
C:\Windows\Prefetch\<TaskName>.pf
Why it's wrong here
Prefetch files store information about executed programs, including run count and last run time, but they do not contain the creation time or author of a scheduled task. They are not relevant to the task's definition and would not provide the needed metadata.
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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.