- A
Ransomware
Why wrong: Incorrect. Ransomware typically encrypts files and demands a ransom, often displaying a visible notification. It does not usually remain silent while performing outbound communication to a C2 server without user awareness.
- B
Rootkit
Why wrong: 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.
- C
Trojan horse
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.
- D
Polymorphic malware
Why wrong: 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.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is a Trojan horse. This malware type works by disguising itself as legitimate, trusted software—such as an application from an approved company store—to bypass initial security defenses. Once installed, it can silently open outbound connections to a command-and-control server, explaining the repeated traffic to a malicious IP even when anti-malware shows no alerts, since the Trojan may not yet be in the signature database. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish between a Trojan horse and a rootkit: a rootkit typically hides deep in the operating system to conceal its own presence and often requires kernel-level access, whereas a Trojan relies on social engineering and trust to get installed. A common trap is assuming that approved software sources are always safe, but Trojans exploit exactly that trust. Memory tip: think “Trojan horse” as the “wolf in sheep’s clothing”—it looks safe on the outside but carries malicious intent inside.
SY0-701 Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigations. 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.
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?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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.
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.
- ✗
Ransomware
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Ransomware typically encrypts files and demands a ransom, often displaying a visible notification. It does not usually remain silent while performing outbound communication to a C2 server without user awareness.
- ✗
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.
- ✓
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.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
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.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may 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.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
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.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Trojan horses often use techniques like DLL sideloading or process hollowing to execute malicious code within a trusted process, making outbound HTTPS or DNS queries to a C2 server while appearing as normal traffic. In a real-world scenario, a Trojan like Emotet has been distributed through fake software updates or legitimate-looking installers, establishing persistent C2 channels that evade signature-based detection by using encrypted or obfuscated payloads.
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 security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations — This question tests Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 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.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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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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