220-1102 Security Practice Question
A security auditor discovers that a user's workstation has a scheduled task that runs a PowerShell script every hour connecting to an external IP and downloading a file. The user denies knowledge. Which is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often assume the user accidentally created the task (Option A) due to the 'user denies knowledge' phrasing, but the technical behavior of hourly external connections and file downloads is a textbook malware persistence mechanism, not a user error.
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
✓
Malware infection
The scheduled task running a PowerShell script that connects to an external IP and downloads a file every hour is a classic indicator of a backdoor or command-and-control (C2) behavior. Malware often persists by creating scheduled tasks to re-infect or update itself, and the user's denial of knowledge strongly suggests the task was placed without their consent. This aligns with a malware infection, as legitimate users do not typically create such tasks.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
User accidentally created a scheduled task
Why it's wrong here
Accidental creation of a scheduled task is implausible because Task Scheduler requires explicit user intervention and typically demands administrative elevation to create tasks that execute scripts. An accidental action would not generate a precisely crafted PowerShell command that targets an arbitrary external IP and downloads executable content. The very specific, stealthy behavior indicates deliberate construction, not user error.
- ✓
Malware infection
Why this is correct
Malware commonly establishes persistence by creating scheduled tasks that run PowerShell scripts at specified intervals. These scripts often connect to command-and-control servers to fetch additional payloads or update the malware, explaining the observed external IP connection and file download. The combination of persistence, script execution, and external network activity is a classic indicator of infection.
- ✗
Windows Update failure
Why it's wrong here
Windows Update operates through Microsoft's own infrastructure using legitimate executables such as wuauclt.dll and UsoClient, and it never creates scheduled tasks that contact arbitrary external IP addresses to download files. A failed update would generate error codes and retries with Microsoft endpoints, not unauthorized outbound connections. The described behavior is inconsistent with any Windows Update mechanism.
- ✗
Incorrect Group Policy
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect Group Policy could theoretically deploy scheduled tasks, but these are defined by domain administrators and typically reference internal servers, not random external IPs. A misconfiguration might cause unintended behavior, but it would not produce a PowerShell script that autonomously reaches out to an unknown host for file downloads. That network pattern strongly suggests malware, not a policy error.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
MFA Types for Users
Key term
PowerShell
PowerShell is a task automation and configuration management framework from Microsoft, consisting of a command-line shell and a scripting language built on the .NET framework.
Key term
Malware
Malware is any software intentionally designed to cause damage, disrupt operations, steal data, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1102 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 220-1102 exam.