Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A threat intelligence feed says an adversary rotates domains daily, uses cloud VPS hosting, and reuses the same malware sample across several campaigns. Analysts want the indicator that remains useful even when the domain changes. What should they prioritize?
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
The current domain name because it is the easiest item to block immediately.
The domain may help short-term blocking, but the attacker rotates it frequently, so it will age out quickly.
B
Best answer
The malware's SHA-256 file hash because it uniquely identifies the sample.
A file hash is a highly specific indicator for a known binary and remains useful even if the attacker changes domains or hosting providers. Since the report says the same malware sample is reused, the hash provides a stable detection and correlation point across campaigns. It is a stronger immediate IOC than infrastructure that can be replaced quickly.
C
Distractor review
The cloud provider's entire ASN because all traffic from that provider is automatically malicious.
Infrastructure providers host both legitimate and malicious services, so blocking an entire ASN is overly broad and creates false positives.
D
Distractor review
The malware's file name because attackers usually keep the same name for convenience.
File names are easy to change and are commonly altered to evade detection or blend in with normal software.
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: The malware's SHA-256 file hash because it uniquely identifies the sample. — The SHA-256 hash is the best indicator to prioritize because it uniquely identifies the malware sample and remains valid even if the adversary changes domains, hosting, or other infrastructure. The question specifically says the same sample is reused across campaigns, which makes a file-based IOC more stable than infrastructure-based indicators. That helps analysts correlate detections and block the payload more reliably. Why others are wrong: Current domains are useful for immediate filtering, but they are easy for the attacker to rotate. Blocking an entire cloud ASN is too broad and would likely affect legitimate services. File names are weak indicators because they can be renamed instantly and often are changed specifically to evade simple detection rules.
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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