- A
The registry modification to the Run key
Run keys are classic persistence indicators.
- B
The network connection over port 443
Why wrong: Network connections indicate C2, not persistence.
- C
The remote IP address
Why wrong: C2 communication is a behavioral IOC but not persistence.
- D
The dropped DLL file hash
Why wrong: The DLL indicates installation but not necessarily persistence.
Question 614 of 1,000
CS0-003 Incident Response and Management Practice Question
This CS0-003 practice question tests your understanding of incident response and management. 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.
During dynamic malware analysis in a sandbox, an analyst observes that the malware attempts to connect to a remote IP address on port 443, modifies the Windows registry under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, and drops a DLL in the system32 folder. Which type of IOC is most indicative of persistence?
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 registry modification to the Run key
The registry modification to HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run is the most indicative of persistence because this specific key is designed to automatically launch programs when a user logs in. By adding a value here, the malware ensures it executes on every system startup, which is the definition of persistence. In contrast, network connections and file drops are common during execution but do not inherently guarantee re-execution after a reboot.
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.
- ✓
The registry modification to the Run key
Why this is correct
Run keys are classic persistence indicators.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The network connection over port 443
Why it's wrong here
Network connections indicate C2, not persistence.
- ✗
The remote IP address
Why it's wrong here
C2 communication is a behavioral IOC but not persistence.
- ✗
The dropped DLL file hash
Why it's wrong here
The DLL indicates installation but not necessarily persistence.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between indicators of activity (network connections, file drops) and indicators of persistence (registry Run keys, scheduled tasks, services), and the trap here is that candidates confuse a common malware behavior (like connecting to a C2 server) with a mechanism that ensures the malware runs again after reboot.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The Run key under HKCU is processed by the Windows Explorer shell during user logon, reading each value and launching the associated executable. Malware often uses this key because it requires no administrative privileges (unlike HKLM) and is simple to implement. In real-world scenarios, advanced malware may also use scheduled tasks or service entries, but the Run key remains a classic persistence technique that is frequently monitored by EDR tools via registry change events (e.g., Sysmon Event ID 13).
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 developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CS0-003 question test?
Incident Response and Management — This question tests Incident Response and Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The registry modification to the Run key — The registry modification to HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run is the most indicative of persistence because this specific key is designed to automatically launch programs when a user logs in. By adding a value here, the malware ensures it executes on every system startup, which is the definition of persistence. In contrast, network connections and file drops are common during execution but do not inherently guarantee re-execution after a reboot.
What should I do if I get this CS0-003 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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This CS0-003 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 CS0-003 exam.
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