Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A security technician has reimaged a user's Windows 10 workstation twice using a standard company image, but the machine continues to exhibit symptoms of a rootkit infection after each reimage. The technician has verified that the removable media used to deploy the image is clean and that the network boot server is not compromised. Which of the following is the MOST likely reason the rootkit persists?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Best answer
The rootkit is embedded in the system's firmware (UEFI/BIOS)
Firmware-based rootkits operate below the operating system and are not removed by reimaging the hard drive. Flashing the firmware is required.
B
Distractor review
The rootkit is hidden in the user's profile, which was restored from backup
If the user profile was restored, it could reintroduce malware, but a standard reimage typically does not include restoring user data unless explicitly done. The scenario does not mention a backup being restored.
C
Distractor review
The rootkit is on an external USB drive that is always connected
An external drive could reinfect the system, but the technician would likely check and remove external media during troubleshooting. The question states the symptoms persist after reimage, implying the source is internal.
D
Distractor review
The rootkit is stored in the Windows registry, which is not erased during reimage
A proper reimage reformats the system partition, wiping the registry and all OS files. The registry is on the hard drive and would be destroyed.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A user reports intermittent network connectivity on a desktop computer. The technician observes that the Ethernet link light on the NIC turns off for a few seconds and then turns back on. The cable passes a wiremap test, the switch port is verified good with another device, and the NIC driver is updated. The issue occurs more frequently when the computer's case fan runs at high speed. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?
Question 2
A workstation is unable to connect to the internet. The technician runs the 'ipconfig' command and sees the IPv4 address is 169.254.15.200 with a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0. The workstation can ping other devices on the local subnet but cannot ping the default gateway or any external addresses. Which TWO actions should the technician take to resolve this issue? (Select two.)
Question 3
A workstation is connected to a managed switch. It obtains a valid IP address (192.168.10.50) from the DHCP server, but it cannot ping the default gateway (192.168.10.1). The link light on both the workstation NIC and the switch port are solid green. Other workstations on the same switch CAN ping the default gateway successfully. The technician accesses the switch management interface and finds that the workstation's port is configured as an access port on VLAN 10. The default gateway is located on VLAN 20. An inter-VLAN router is configured but not explicitly allowing VLAN 10 access to VLAN 20. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the problem?
Question 4
A company develops a web application that relies on a custom library available only for a specific Linux distribution. They want to deploy the application in the cloud with minimal administrative overhead, but they need full control over the software stack, including the ability to install the custom library and configure the web server. Which cloud service model BEST meets these requirements?
Question 5
A company has a legacy virtual machine running on a deprecated hypervisor (Hyper-V). They want to migrate this VM to a new hypervisor (VMware vSphere) hosted in a private cloud while preserving the VM's configuration, installed applications, and data. The migration must be performed with minimal downtime. Which of the following methods is MOST appropriate?
Question 6
A company hosts a critical database on a virtual machine in a public cloud. The database requires persistent storage that must be retained even if the VM is terminated. The storage must also be accessible from multiple VMs simultaneously for a future high-availability configuration. Which type of cloud storage BEST meets these requirements?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1101 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The rootkit is embedded in the system's firmware (UEFI/BIOS) — Rootkits can infect the system's firmware, such as the UEFI/BIOS, which survives a standard hard drive reimage. Because the firmware is not erased when the operating system partition is overwritten, the rootkit can reinfect the OS after installation. The user profile, external drives, and Windows registry are all stored on the hard drive and would be wiped by a proper reimage.
What should I do if I get this 220-1101 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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