- A
Shut down the laptop immediately and leave it on the desk.
Why wrong: Powering off can help stop spread, but it may destroy useful volatile evidence and is not the first recommended step for a live system.
- B
Disconnect the laptop from the network to contain the infection.
Removing network access helps prevent the malware from reaching file shares, backup systems, or other hosts while preserving the running state for later analysis.
- C
Delete the ransom note and continue working until the next reboot.
Why wrong: Deleting the note does not stop the malware and allows further encryption or spread to continue across the system and connected resources.
- D
Install a new browser extension to block the attacker.
Why wrong: Browser extensions do not address active ransomware behavior on the endpoint and would not contain or remove the malicious process.
Quick Answer
The answer is to disconnect the laptop from the network immediately. This action stops the ransomware from communicating with its command-and-control server, which prevents it from receiving encryption keys or instructions to spread to network shares and other devices. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of containment as the first step in incident response, specifically the principle of isolating an infected host to halt lateral movement. A common trap is choosing to shut down the laptop, but that can destroy volatile evidence in memory; disconnecting the network cable or disabling Wi-Fi preserves the system state for forensic analysis while stopping the attack. Remember the mnemonic “DNS” for ransomware response: Disconnect first, then Notify, then Scan.
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 user's laptop starts renaming many documents, and a ransom note appears on the desktop. What is the best immediate action for the help desk to recommend?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
Disconnect the laptop from the network to contain the infection.
Disconnecting the laptop from the network immediately stops the ransomware from communicating with its command-and-control (C2) server, preventing further encryption of network shares and lateral movement. This containment step is critical before any remediation, as it isolates the threat and preserves evidence for forensic analysis.
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.
- ✗
Shut down the laptop immediately and leave it on the desk.
Why it's wrong here
Powering off can help stop spread, but it may destroy useful volatile evidence and is not the first recommended step for a live system.
- ✓
Disconnect the laptop from the network to contain the infection.
Why this is correct
Removing network access helps prevent the malware from reaching file shares, backup systems, or other hosts while preserving the running state for later analysis.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Delete the ransom note and continue working until the next reboot.
Why it's wrong here
Deleting the note does not stop the malware and allows further encryption or spread to continue across the system and connected resources.
- ✗
Install a new browser extension to block the attacker.
Why it's wrong here
Browser extensions do not address active ransomware behavior on the endpoint and would not contain or remove the malicious process.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse immediate containment with system shutdown, mistakenly believing that powering off stops the attack, when in fact network isolation is the correct first step to halt both encryption and lateral spread.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Ransomware often uses a hybrid encryption scheme: a symmetric key (e.g., AES-256) encrypts files quickly, and that key is then encrypted with an asymmetric public key (e.g., RSA-2048) from the C2 server. Disconnecting the network prevents the ransomware from exfiltrating the symmetric key or receiving the final encryption instructions, potentially limiting the scope of encryption to files already processed. In real-world incidents, rapid network isolation has been shown to reduce the number of encrypted files by up to 70%.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All SY0-701 questions
1,152 questions across all exam domains
- →
Security+ SY0-701 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
SY0-701 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related SY0-701 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
General Security Concepts practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to General Security Concepts.
Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations.
Security Architecture practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security Architecture.
Security Operations practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security Operations.
Security Program Management and Oversight practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security Program Management and Oversight.
Security+ social engineering questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ social engineering questions.
Security+ cryptography practice questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ cryptography.
Security+ IAM questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ IAM questions.
Security+ risk management questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ risk management questions.
Security+ incident response questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ incident response questions.
Security+ malware questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ malware questions.
Security+ vulnerability management questions
Practise SY0-701 questions linked to Security+ vulnerability management questions.
Practice this exam
Start a free SY0-701 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
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: Disconnect the laptop from the network to contain the infection. — Disconnecting the laptop from the network immediately stops the ransomware from communicating with its command-and-control (C2) server, preventing further encryption of network shares and lateral movement. This containment step is critical before any remediation, as it isolates the threat and preserves evidence for forensic analysis.
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: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Keep practising
More SY0-701 practice questions
- An HR analyst must send a salary file to an external auditor. The auditor only needs names, departments, and salary tota…
- An investigator receives a suspect laptop drive that may be used in court. Which approach best supports a forensically s…
- An investigator must collect data from a suspected insider-threat laptop so the evidence could be used in an HR and lega…
- An NDR tool shows a production web server sending small, periodic DNS queries to random-looking subdomains under a domai…
- An investigator needs to make a forensic image of a suspect laptop without changing the original drive contents. Which t…
- An operations team manages Linux servers over SSH. The security team wants to stop direct management access from employe…
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.