- A
Run a full antivirus scan in normal mode.
Why wrong: Fileless malware often evades traditional signature-based scans because it does not write files to disk; scanning in normal mode may miss it.
- B
Use the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) in Safe Mode.
Why wrong: MSRT is a basic tool that may not detect advanced fileless threats; it also runs within Windows, where the malware can hide.
- C
Boot from a rescue disk and perform an offline scan.
Booting from a rescue disk (e.g., Windows Defender Offline) runs the scan outside the infected Windows environment, allowing detection of fileless malware that resides only in memory or registry.
- D
Restore the system from a backup taken before the infection.
Why wrong: Restoring from backup may reintroduce the malware if the backup is infected, and it does not address the root cause of the infection.
Quick Answer
The correct approach is to boot from a rescue disk and perform an offline scan, because fileless malware resides entirely in memory and evades traditional signature-based antivirus tools that scan files on disk. By booting from a clean rescue disk, you load a separate operating system that bypasses the infected Windows environment, allowing the scanner to inspect and remove the malware from RAM without the malware’s process being able to hide or interfere. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this question tests your understanding that fileless malware exploits memory-only execution, so the key is to break its active foothold by scanning from outside the infected OS. A common trap is to choose a standard antivirus update or a system restore, but those fail because the malware never writes persistent files. Remember the mnemonic: “Rescue disk, memory risk” — if it lives in RAM, boot from a clean disk to slam it.
220-1202 PC Security Issue Remediation Practice Question
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of pc security issue remediation. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
A technician discovers that a Windows 10 workstation has been infected with a fileless malware that resides in memory. Traditional antivirus scans have not detected it. Which approach should the technician use to remove this type of malware?
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
Boot from a rescue disk and perform an offline scan.
Fileless malware resides entirely in memory (RAM) and does not write persistent files to disk, so traditional antivirus scans that rely on file signatures cannot detect it. Booting from a rescue disk (e.g., a bootable USB or CD with an offline scanner) loads a clean operating system that bypasses the infected Windows environment, allowing the scanner to inspect memory and terminate the malware without the malware being able to hide or protect itself. This offline approach ensures the malware's process cannot interfere with the scan, making it the correct remediation method.
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.
- ✗
Run a full antivirus scan in normal mode.
Why it's wrong here
Fileless malware often evades traditional signature-based scans because it does not write files to disk; scanning in normal mode may miss it.
- ✗
Use the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) in Safe Mode.
Why it's wrong here
MSRT is a basic tool that may not detect advanced fileless threats; it also runs within Windows, where the malware can hide.
- ✓
Boot from a rescue disk and perform an offline scan.
Why this is correct
Booting from a rescue disk (e.g., Windows Defender Offline) runs the scan outside the infected Windows environment, allowing detection of fileless malware that resides only in memory or registry.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Restore the system from a backup taken before the infection.
Why it's wrong here
Restoring from backup may reintroduce the malware if the backup is infected, and it does not address the root cause of the infection.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume Safe Mode or a signature-based removal tool like MSRT can handle all malware types, but fileless malware specifically evades these by not writing to disk and by running within trusted system processes.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Fileless malware often leverages legitimate system tools like PowerShell, WMI, or .NET frameworks to execute malicious code directly in memory, bypassing traditional file-scanning engines. Offline scanning from a rescue disk works because the scanner runs from a separate, trusted OS kernel that can enumerate all running processes and memory pages without the malware's hooks or rootkit techniques interfering. In real-world scenarios, such as the 2017 'Poweliks' or 'Fileless' campaigns, this approach is critical because the malware can re-infect the system from memory if the technician reboots into the infected OS without first cleaning the memory.
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
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1202 question test?
PC Security Issue Remediation — This question tests PC Security Issue Remediation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Boot from a rescue disk and perform an offline scan. — Fileless malware resides entirely in memory (RAM) and does not write persistent files to disk, so traditional antivirus scans that rely on file signatures cannot detect it. Booting from a rescue disk (e.g., a bootable USB or CD with an offline scanner) loads a clean operating system that bypasses the infected Windows environment, allowing the scanner to inspect memory and terminate the malware without the malware being able to hide or protect itself. This offline approach ensures the malware's process cannot interfere with the scan, making it the correct remediation method.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 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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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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