hardMultiple Choice
220-1102 Practice Question: During a routine check, a technician finds that a…
During a routine check, a technician finds that a user's Windows 10 computer has an outdated antivirus that hasn't updated in 3 months. The user claims they never saw any update prompts. What is the most likely reason and the appropriate remediation?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA A+ often tests the misconception that a disabled Windows Update service is the cause of all antivirus update failures. In reality, third-party antivirus products update through their own services and servers; a disabled wuauserv primarily affects Windows Defender and OS updates. For a third-party AV that has stopped updating with no prompts, suspect an expired subscription/license first.
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
✓
The antivirus subscription has expired; renew it
The most likely reason the antivirus hasn't updated in 3 months, with no prompts seen by the user, is that its subscription/license has expired. When a subscription lapses, the product typically stops receiving definition updates and may suppress or stop showing update prompts. The appropriate remediation is to renew the subscription or replace the antivirus with a supported solution. Note: Windows Defender does rely on Windows Update for definitions, but the scenario describes a separate antivirus product, which updates through its own update mechanism, not the Windows Update service (wuauserv).
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 antivirus subscription has expired; renew it
Why this is correct
While possible, the question states no prompts were seen; a disabled update service is a common cause that also explains the lack of prompts.
- ✗
The Windows Update service is disabled; re-enable it and set to automatic
Why it's wrong here
If the Windows Update service is disabled, the antivirus cannot receive updates, and the user would not see prompts. Enabling it resolves the issue.
- ✗
The user has manually set the antivirus to manual update mode
Why it's wrong here
Manual mode would still show prompts or notifications; the lack of any prompts points to a service-level issue.
- ✗
The computer is infected with a virus that blocks updates
Why it's wrong here
A virus that blocks antivirus updates is a known threat, but it would typically prevent the user from manually initiating updates or accessing security settings, not suppress the operating system’s own update notifications. The scenario describes a user who never saw prompts, which points to a misconfigured Windows Update or notification setting, not an active infection. This option is tempting because malware like ransomware often disables security software; it would be correct if the technician observed that update attempts failed silently or the antivirus service was forcibly stopped.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
User Account Control (UAC)
Key term
Windows 10
Windows 10 is a personal computer operating system developed by Microsoft that combines the familiarity of Windows 7 with the modern features of Windows 8, designed to run on a wide range of devices from desktops to tablets.
Key term
Antivirus
Antivirus is software that detects, prevents, and removes malicious software (malware) from a computer or network.
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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.