A technician is cleaning a workstation that was infected with a rootkit. The technician has booted into a trusted recovery environment and run anti-malware scans. After removing the rootkit, the technician wants to ensure no remnants remain. Which of the following is the BEST next step?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
Best answer
Reinstall the operating system
A clean installation ensures all remnants of the rootkit are removed, as rootkits can hide from scans and persist in the OS.
Distractor review
Run a full system restore from a recent backup
The backup may contain the rootkit or its components, leading to reinfection. This is not recommended.
Distractor review
Perform a manual registry cleanup
Registry cleanup is not sufficient to remove all rootkit components, which may reside in non-registry areas and be hidden.
Distractor review
Enable Secure Boot in the UEFI
Secure Boot helps prevent bootkits from loading but does not remove an existing rootkit that is already present on the system.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A change advisory board (CAB) approved a standard change to update antivirus definitions on all servers. The technician completes the update on a file server and verifies the server is functioning normally. According to change management best practices, what documentation should the technician complete?
Question 2
A company's change management policy requires all server changes to be approved by the Change Advisory Board (CAB). A technician discovers that a critical database server's operating system needs a security patch to comply with a new regulatory requirement that takes effect in one week. The patch has a known risk of causing service downtime. The next scheduled CAB meeting is in two weeks. What should the technician do FIRST?
Question 3
A company is implementing a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy and needs to ensure that corporate data on employee mobile devices is protected. Which of the following is the MOST important technical control to implement?
Question 4
A company requires employees to present both a smart card and a PIN to log into their workstations. Which authentication principle is being implemented?
Question 5
A company requires all Windows 10 workstations to be able to join an Active Directory domain. Which edition of Windows 10 must be installed on these workstations?
Question 6
A company wants to allow employees to securely access internal resources from home via the internet. Which method provides the highest level of security for remote desktop connections?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1102 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Reinstall the operating system — Rootkits are designed to hide deep within the operating system and can survive typical removal attempts. The most reliable method to ensure complete removal is to wipe the system and perform a clean installation of the operating system. Restoring from a backup risks reintroducing the infection if the backup was made before the rootkit was removed. Manual cleanup is unreliable, and enabling Secure Boot prevents future bootkits but does not clean an existing infection.
What should I do if I get this 220-1102 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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