Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A finance laptop is opened to review an invoice attachment. EDR then shows winword.exe launching powershell.exe with hidden, no-profile, and base64-encoded arguments. No executable is written to disk, network beacons begin from memory, and after a reboot the activity disappears unless the document is opened again. What type of malware behavior is most likely?
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
Distractor review
Worm behavior, because the infection would self-replicate across systems through the network.
Worms focus on spreading to other systems. The key clues here are in-memory execution and document-triggered payloads, not autonomous network propagation.
B
Best answer
Fileless attack, because malicious code runs in memory and leaves little or no executable artifact on disk.
This is a classic fileless attack pattern. The process chain from a trusted Office app to hidden PowerShell, the encoded command line, the lack of a new binary on disk, and the disappearance after reboot all point to code executing primarily in memory. That makes detection harder and often means the initial document or script acts as the launcher rather than a traditional dropper.
C
Distractor review
Rootkit behavior, because the malware is hidden from normal user-mode tools.
Rootkits hide themselves, but the strongest clues here are memory-only execution and script-based launching from Office, not kernel-level hiding or tampering with system visibility.
D
Distractor review
Ransomware, because the user opened an invoice attachment before the suspicious activity started.
Ransomware would usually encrypt files, rename them, or display a ransom note. The described symptoms are process execution and beacons, not encryption or extortion.
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 laptop is suspected of being used in a malware incident. It is still powered on and connected to Wi-Fi. What should the responder do before shutting it down?
Question 2
An employee reports a ransomware note on a file server. The server is still powered on, shares are still being accessed, and management wants service restored as quickly as possible. What should the incident response team do first?
Question 3
An employee reports a ransomware note on a finance laptop. The laptop is still powered on, connected to Wi-Fi, and the user says they were just working in a spreadsheet. Management wants the fastest safe response that also preserves evidence. What should the responder do first?
Question 4
You are handed a company laptop suspected in an insider theft case. Legal says the evidence may be needed in court. Which action best preserves admissibility?
Question 5
A developer wants to reduce the risk of SQL injection in a new customer search form. Which two changes are the best mitigations? Select two.
Question 6
A branch office uses a flat LAN, and a compromise on one user workstation could spread quickly to finance systems. Management wants finance workstations isolated from general users, but finance staff still need access to a central finance application and network printer. What is the best design change?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Fileless attack, because malicious code runs in memory and leaves little or no executable artifact on disk. — A fileless attack is the best fit because the malicious code runs in memory, uses legitimate scripting tools, and leaves no obvious executable on disk. The encoded PowerShell launched from a document is a strong indicator that the attacker is leveraging trusted processes to avoid traditional file-based detection. The reboot clearing the behavior also supports an in-memory payload rather than persistent file-based malware. Why others are wrong: A worm would spread laterally and is not characterized by memory-only execution launched from a document. A rootkit focuses on concealment at a low level, often hiding files or processes from tools, but the core symptom here is script-based in-memory activity. Ransomware would visibly encrypt or rename data, which is not happening in the scenario.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 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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