Question 926 of 1,013
SY0-701 Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations Practice Question
A security analyst observes repeated outbound traffic from a single workstation to a known malicious IP address. The workstation's anti-malware software has reported no alerts, and the user claims to have only downloaded software from the company's approved application store. Which type of malware most likely explains this behavior?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse a rootkit's stealth capabilities with the Trojan's social engineering vector, overlooking that the approved store download is a classic Trojan delivery method, not a rootkit's typical infection path.
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
✓
Trojan horse
The Trojan horse is correct because it is a type of malware that disguises itself as legitimate software, often downloaded from trusted sources like an approved application store, to bypass security controls. Once installed, it can silently establish outbound connections to a command-and-control (C2) server, such as the known malicious IP address observed, without triggering anti-malware alerts if the Trojan is not yet in the signature database. This matches the scenario where the user downloaded from an approved store, the anti-malware reported no alerts, and the workstation is communicating with a malicious IP.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Ransomware
Why it's wrong here
Ransomware is incorrect because its primary objective is to encrypt a victim's files or lock the system and then demand a ransom, typically via a visible notification or lock screen. This behavior intentionally alerts the user to the compromise to pressure payment, unlike the silent, repeated outbound traffic described in the scenario. While some ransomware variants do communicate with a command-and-control (C2) server to obtain encryption keys or exfiltrate data, the observed low-and-slow C2 traffic without user-visible impact is far more characteristic of a trojan horse establishing persistence. Additionally, approved app store distribution is a common vector for trojans, not for ransomware, which more often spreads through malicious email attachments, exploit kits, or drive-by downloads.
When this WOULD be correct
A question where a user reports encrypted files and a ransom note demanding payment, with outbound traffic to a command-and-control server, would make ransomware correct.
- ✗
Rootkit
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. A rootkit is designed to conceal its presence and maintain privileged access. While it could communicate externally, its primary goal is stealth within the system rather than generating observable outbound traffic, and it is less likely to be downloaded from an approved app store.
When this WOULD be correct
A rootkit would be correct in a scenario where a security analyst discovers that malware has hidden itself from the operating system and anti-malware tools, and the user reports no unusual activity, but system performance is degraded or unauthorized access is detected.
- ✓
Trojan horse
Why this is correct
Correct. A Trojan horse masquerades as benign software, often from a seemingly trusted source. It can evade signature-based anti-malware and silently establish outbound connections to a malicious IP for command-and-control, data exfiltration, or further payload delivery.
- ✗
Polymorphic malware
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Polymorphic malware changes its code signature each time it replicates, which helps evade signature detection. However, it is not typically delivered via an approved app store, and its behavior is not uniquely characteristic of the described outbound traffic scenario.
When this WOULD be correct
A security analyst observes repeated outbound traffic to a known malicious IP, and the anti-malware software fails to detect the malware despite updated signatures. The malware changes its code each time it replicates, evading signature-based detection. Which type of malware is most likely responsible?
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The SY0-701 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Trojan horseCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
Correct. A Trojan horse masquerades as benign software, often from a seemingly trusted source. It can evade signature-based anti-malware and silently establish outbound connections to a malicious IP for command-and-control, data exfiltration, or further payload delivery.
✗RansomwareWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Ransomware typically encrypts files and demands payment, often with visible alerts or ransom notes, not silent outbound traffic to a known malicious IP without alerts.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question where a user reports encrypted files and a ransom note demanding payment, with outbound traffic to a command-and-control server, would make ransomware correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may associate any malicious outbound traffic with ransomware, overlooking that ransomware usually shows clear signs of infection rather than stealthy communication.
✗RootkitWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A rootkit is designed to hide its presence and maintain privileged access, but it does not typically generate repeated outbound traffic to a known malicious IP. The observed behavior suggests a trojan horse, which masquerades as legitimate software to establish command-and-control communication.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A rootkit would be correct in a scenario where a security analyst discovers that malware has hidden itself from the operating system and anti-malware tools, and the user reports no unusual activity, but system performance is degraded or unauthorized access is detected.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may choose rootkit because it is known for stealth and evading detection, similar to the scenario where anti-malware reported no alerts, but they overlook that rootkits do not typically cause repeated outbound traffic to a malicious IP.
✗Polymorphic malwareWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Polymorphic malware changes its code to evade signature-based detection, but the question states the workstation's anti-malware software reported no alerts, which could also be due to a trojan. However, the key clue is that the user downloaded software from an approved store, suggesting a trojan disguised as legitimate software, not polymorphic behavior.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A security analyst observes repeated outbound traffic to a known malicious IP, and the anti-malware software fails to detect the malware despite updated signatures. The malware changes its code each time it replicates, evading signature-based detection. Which type of malware is most likely responsible?
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may associate 'no alerts from anti-malware' with malware that evades detection, and polymorphic malware is known for evading signature-based detection, leading them to overlook the social engineering aspect of a trojan.
Analysis generated from the official SY0-701blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This SY0-701 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 SY0-701 exam.
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