220-1102 PC Security Issue Remediation Practice Question
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of pc security issue remediation. 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.
A security analyst discovers that a user's workstation has been compromised by a rootkit that hides its processes from Task Manager. The rootkit is not detected by the installed antivirus. Which step is most effective for remediation?
Why wrong: While Safe Mode loads minimal drivers, some rootkits can still load and hide from scans; offline scanning is more reliable.
B
Use System Restore to revert to a previous state.
Why wrong: System Restore may not remove a rootkit as it can persist in system restore points or the boot sector.
C
Boot from a rescue disk and perform an offline antivirus scan.
An offline scan from a rescue disk runs outside the infected OS, preventing the rootkit from hiding and allowing detection.
D
Reinstall the operating system from the recovery partition.
Why wrong: Reinstalling from a recovery partition may not clean the boot sector or firmware if the rootkit is there; a clean install from external media is better.
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 antivirus scan.
Option C is correct because a rootkit that hides its processes from Task Manager and evades the installed antivirus operates at a deep level within the operating system, often in kernel mode. Booting from a rescue disk (e.g., a live CD/USB with an offline scanner) loads a clean operating system environment, preventing the rootkit from loading and allowing the antivirus to scan the infected system's files without interference. This offline approach is the most effective remediation step when the rootkit is actively hiding from the installed AV in the normal OS context.
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 Safe Mode.
Why it's wrong here
While Safe Mode loads minimal drivers, some rootkits can still load and hide from scans; offline scanning is more reliable.
✗
Use System Restore to revert to a previous state.
Why it's wrong here
System Restore may not remove a rootkit as it can persist in system restore points or the boot sector.
✓
Boot from a rescue disk and perform an offline antivirus scan.
Why this is correct
An offline scan from a rescue disk runs outside the infected OS, preventing the rootkit from hiding and allowing detection.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Reinstall the operating system from the recovery partition.
Why it's wrong here
Reinstalling from a recovery partition may not clean the boot sector or firmware if the rootkit is there; a clean install from external media is better.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume Safe Mode or System Restore can bypass rootkit persistence, but Cisco tests the understanding that rootkits operate below the OS layer and require a clean, offline environment to be reliably detected and removed.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Rootkits often use techniques like SSDT (System Service Descriptor Table) hooking or DKOM (Direct Kernel Object Manipulation) to hide processes and files from user-mode tools like Task Manager. An offline scan from a rescue disk bypasses these kernel-level hooks because the rootkit's code is never executed, allowing the scanner to read the raw disk sectors and detect the rootkit's files and registry entries. In real-world scenarios, sophisticated rootkits like TDL4 or Alureon have been known to infect the MBR, making offline scanning from a trusted boot medium essential for complete removal.
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 practitioner preparing for the 220-1202 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 220-1202 question in full detail.
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 antivirus scan. — Option C is correct because a rootkit that hides its processes from Task Manager and evades the installed antivirus operates at a deep level within the operating system, often in kernel mode. Booting from a rescue disk (e.g., a live CD/USB with an offline scanner) loads a clean operating system environment, preventing the rootkit from loading and allowing the antivirus to scan the infected system's files without interference. This offline approach is the most effective remediation step when the rootkit is actively hiding from the installed AV in the normal OS context.
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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