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220-1102 Practice Question: An employee's company-issued Android phone is…
An employee's company-issued Android phone is suddenly displaying pop-up ads even when no browser is open. The employee claims they only downloaded apps from the official Google Play Store. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the distinction between network-level threats (like DNS hijacking) and client-side permission abuse, so the trap here is that candidates may assume pop-up ads always come from browser-based malware or network injection, rather than recognizing the 'Draw over other apps' permission as the specific Android mechanism for persistent on-screen overlays.
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
✓
A recently installed app has been granted 'Draw over other apps' permission.
The 'Draw over other apps' permission allows an app to display content on top of other applications, including the home screen and lock screen. This is a common technique used by adware and malicious apps to serve persistent pop-up ads even when no browser is open, as the app can draw its own window outside of the normal app lifecycle. Since the employee only downloaded from Google Play, this permission abuse is the most likely cause, as even Play Store apps can be granted this permission by the user during installation or runtime.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The phone's firmware is outdated.
Why it's wrong here
Outdated firmware primarily introduces security vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors or lead to system instability and performance issues. While these vulnerabilities might enable a malicious app to function more effectively, the firmware itself does not inherently generate pop-up advertisements. Pop-up ads are typically a symptom of adware or other unwanted software actively running on the device, not a direct function of the operating system's core firmware version.
- ✓
A recently installed app has been granted 'Draw over other apps' permission.
Why this is correct
The 'Draw over other apps' permission, also known as 'Display over other apps' or 'Overlay permission,' grants an application the ability to render its content on top of any other running application or the system UI. Malicious adware frequently leverages this powerful permission to display intrusive, unsolicited advertisements that appear suddenly and cover legitimate app content, making them difficult to dismiss and often obscuring the actual source. This behavior is a hallmark of adware that aims to force ad impressions onto the user.
- ✗
The phone's Wi-Fi network is infected with malware.
Why it's wrong here
Malware affecting a Wi-Fi network, such as a compromised router or DNS server, typically manifests as browser redirects, altered search results, or injected ads within web pages when browsing. It operates at the network layer, manipulating traffic before it reaches the device. However, it would not directly cause pop-up ads to appear spontaneously across the entire Android operating system, especially when no browser is active, as this indicates an application-level issue on the device itself.
- ✗
The phone's screen has a hardware defect causing ghost touches.
Why it's wrong here
A hardware defect causing "ghost touches" refers to the touchscreen registering input without actual physical contact, leading to erratic behavior like apps opening or settings changing seemingly on their own. While frustrating, ghost touches are a physical input issue and would not generate specific pop-up advertisements. Pop-up ads are a software-driven phenomenon, requiring an application to actively render and display content, which is distinct from unintended touch input.
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Windows Installation Methods
Key term
Pop-up ads
Pop-up ads are unsolicited browser windows or overlays that appear automatically while browsing, often used for advertising or, maliciously, to spread malware.
Key term
Android
Android is an open-source operating system used primarily on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, developed by Google.
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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.