hardMultiple SelectObjective-mapped
200-201 Practice Question: Which TWO locations in a Linux filesystem should…
Which TWO locations in a Linux filesystem should be checked for evidence of malware persistence?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between locations that store persistent configuration (like crontabs and init.d) versus runtime or log-only directories (like /proc and /var/log), so candidates mistakenly choose /proc or /var/log/syslog because they are commonly examined during live analysis, but they do not hold persistence artifacts.
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
✓
/var/spool/cron/crontabs
Cron is a standard Linux mechanism for scheduling recurring tasks, and malware often uses cron jobs to re-execute itself after a reboot or at specific intervals. The crontabs directory under /var/spool/cron/ contains the actual cron job files for each user, making it a primary location to check for unauthorized persistence entries. Malware can add a cron entry that downloads or runs a malicious script, ensuring its continued presence on the system.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
/proc
Why it's wrong here
/proc is a virtual filesystem for process info, not persistence.
- ✓
/var/spool/cron/crontabs
Why this is correct
Cron jobs can run malware periodically.
- ✗
/var/log/syslog
Why it's wrong here
Logs show activity but not persistence.
- ✓
/etc/init.d
Why this is correct
Init scripts are run at startup.
- ✗
/etc/passwd
Why it's wrong here
Passwd contains user accounts, not persistence per se.
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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.