easyMultiple Choice
220-1202 Practice Question: That their browser frequently redirects to a…
A user reports that their browser frequently redirects to a search page they never set, and they see unfamiliar toolbars. After running a malware scan that found nothing, what should the technician do next to resolve the issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates often jump to reinstalling the OS or scanning for malware again, but CompTIA tests whether you recognize that browser-specific issues are best resolved with browser-level tools before escalating to system-wide repairs.
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
✓
Reset the browser settings to default.
The symptoms—unwanted redirects and unfamiliar toolbars—are classic signs of browser hijacking, often caused by a malicious extension or a changed proxy configuration. Since a malware scan found nothing, the next logical step is to reset the browser settings to default, which removes all extensions, restores the homepage and search engine, and clears cached data that may be enforcing the redirects. This action directly addresses the most common vector for such behavior without resorting to hardware or OS-level changes.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Replace the network cable.
Why it's wrong here
Redirects and injected toolbars are software artefacts inside the OS or browser profile; a cable swap cannot alter them. Cable replacement suits physical-layer faults like intermittent link drops or damaged connectors, which is when this step would be warranted.
- ✓
Reset the browser settings to default.
Why this is correct
Browser hijackers persist via extensions, search providers and homepage settings that malware scans often miss. Resetting settings to default removes these unwanted modifications, restoring the browser to a clean state and eliminating the redirects and toolbars the user reported.
- ✗
Update the network adapter driver.
Why it's wrong here
Browser redirects and rogue toolbars are user-profile or extension-level hijacks, not link-layer faults; a driver update cannot remove them. Driver updates address genuine adapter faults such as dropped packets or driver-related disconnects, which is when this step would be warranted.
- ✗
Reinstall the operating system.
Why it's wrong here
Reinstalling the OS destroys data and applications without first targeting the browser extensions, scheduled tasks or proxy settings causing the redirects. OS reinstallation suits irrecoverable corruption or deeply embedded rootkits, which is when this step would be warranted.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1202 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 220-1202 exam.