This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of host-based analysis. 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.
Refer to the exhibit. A security analyst is analyzing a Windows host that is communicating with an external server at 192.168.1.50. Based on the output, which process is likely malicious?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
powershell.exe (PID 2792) because it has an established HTTPS connection to an external server.
PowerShell.exe (PID 2792) is the likely malicious process because it has an established HTTPS connection (TCP port 443) to an external server at 192.168.1.50. PowerShell is a powerful scripting tool often abused by attackers to execute arbitrary code, download payloads, or establish command-and-control (C2) channels over encrypted HTTPS, which can evade detection by traditional signature-based security tools.
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.
✗
svchost.exe (PID 1420) because it is connecting to an external IP on port 80.
Why it's wrong here
svchost.exe commonly hosts services that make HTTP connections; this alone is not suspicious.
✗
cmd.exe (PID 2568) because it could be used to launch other processes.
Why it's wrong here
Cmd.exe has no network connections; it is not directly communicating.
✓
powershell.exe (PID 2792) because it has an established HTTPS connection to an external server.
Why this is correct
PowerShell making an outbound HTTPS connection is atypical and often used for malicious purposes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
notepad.exe (PID 2344) because it is not expecting to make any network connections.
Why it's wrong here
Notepad.exe has no network connections in the output, so it is not involved.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that any process connecting to an external IP is malicious, but the trap here is that candidates overlook the context of the process—PowerShell is a legitimate tool that is frequently abused, whereas svchost.exe making HTTP connections is normal system behavior.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Notepad.exe has no network connections in the output, so it is not involved.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
PowerShell's ability to use the System.Net.WebClient class or Invoke-WebRequest cmdlet over HTTPS allows it to download and execute scripts in memory without writing to disk, a technique known as 'fileless malware.' In real-world attacks, threat actors often use PowerShell to establish encrypted C2 channels, making it a prime candidate for detection when an unexpected process like notepad.exe or a non-system process initiates an outbound HTTPS connection to an external server.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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.
Host-Based Analysis — This question tests Host-Based Analysis — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: powershell.exe (PID 2792) because it has an established HTTPS connection to an external server. — PowerShell.exe (PID 2792) is the likely malicious process because it has an established HTTPS connection (TCP port 443) to an external server at 192.168.1.50. PowerShell is a powerful scripting tool often abused by attackers to execute arbitrary code, download payloads, or establish command-and-control (C2) channels over encrypted HTTPS, which can evade detection by traditional signature-based security tools.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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