- A
A compromised host attempting to communicate with a command-and-control server over encrypted traffic
The signature and destination IP suggest C2 communication over HTTPS.
- B
A false positive due to a web browser accessing a secure site
Why wrong: The signature is specific to a trojan, not typical browser traffic.
- C
An attacker scanning for open HTTPS ports on the internal network
Why wrong: The direction is from internal to external, not scanning.
- D
A benign HTTPS connection to a legitimate website
Why wrong: The signature is specific to a trojan, not benign.
Question 342 of 1,000
200-201 Security Monitoring Practice Question
This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of security monitoring. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
During a security assessment, a SOC analyst notices an IDS/IPS alert with a severity of 'High' for a signature named 'ET TROJAN Win32.Vobfus Checkin'. The alert shows source IP 10.0.0.5 and destination IP 203.0.113.50 on port 443. What is the most likely interpretation of this alert?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
✓
A compromised host attempting to communicate with a command-and-control server over encrypted traffic
The signature 'ET TROJAN Win32.Vobfus Checkin' is a known detection rule for the Vobfus trojan family, which typically establishes command-and-control (C2) communications over HTTPS (port 443) to exfiltrate data or receive instructions. The high severity indicates the IDS/IPS has matched traffic patterns or JA3 hashes associated with this malware's C2 beaconing, making it highly likely that the host at 10.0.0.5 is compromised and communicating with a malicious server at 203.0.113.50.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
A compromised host attempting to communicate with a command-and-control server over encrypted traffic
Why this is correct
The signature and destination IP suggest C2 communication over HTTPS.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
A false positive due to a web browser accessing a secure site
Why it's wrong here
The signature is specific to a trojan, not typical browser traffic.
- ✗
An attacker scanning for open HTTPS ports on the internal network
Why it's wrong here
The direction is from internal to external, not scanning.
- ✗
A benign HTTPS connection to a legitimate website
Why it's wrong here
The signature is specific to a trojan, not benign.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between generic HTTPS traffic and signature-specific malware detection, trapping candidates who assume all encrypted traffic is benign or that high-severity alerts are automatically false positives.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The Vobfus trojan often uses HTTPS to blend in with normal web traffic, but its C2 checkin may be identified by unique JA3/SHA1 fingerprints of the TLS handshake, specific URI paths, or periodic beacon intervals that deviate from typical user behavior. Under the hood, the IDS/IPS rule may also look for the presence of a specific User-Agent string or HTTP headers that are hardcoded in the malware, distinguishing it from legitimate browser traffic. In real-world scenarios, this alert would prompt immediate host isolation and forensic analysis of the endpoint to confirm the compromise.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 200-201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-201 question test?
Security Monitoring — This question tests Security Monitoring — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A compromised host attempting to communicate with a command-and-control server over encrypted traffic — The signature 'ET TROJAN Win32.Vobfus Checkin' is a known detection rule for the Vobfus trojan family, which typically establishes command-and-control (C2) communications over HTTPS (port 443) to exfiltrate data or receive instructions. The high severity indicates the IDS/IPS has matched traffic patterns or JA3 hashes associated with this malware's C2 beaconing, making it highly likely that the host at 10.0.0.5 is compromised and communicating with a malicious server at 203.0.113.50.
What should I do if I get this 200-201 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
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