Question 309 of 1,013
SY0-701 Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations Practice Question
After a user installs a free PDF converter from an unofficial site, the browser homepage changes, the endpoint protection agent stops launching, and the system begins making periodic outbound connections to the same unfamiliar IP address. No exploit was used during installation, and the installer appeared legitimate. What type of malware best matches this behavior?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse a Trojan with a worm because both can cause network activity, but the key differentiator is that a worm spreads autonomously without user action, whereas a Trojan requires the user to intentionally run the malicious file.
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, because it masquerades as useful software while delivering hidden malicious functionality.
B is correct because the software masquerades as a legitimate PDF converter while secretly performing malicious actions—changing the browser homepage, disabling endpoint protection, and making unauthorized outbound connections. This is the classic definition of a Trojan horse: it appears useful but contains hidden, harmful functionality. The lack of an exploit and the user's voluntary installation further confirm it is a Trojan, not a self-replicating worm or a kernel-hiding rootkit.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Worm, because the infection is spreading automatically across the network.
Why it's wrong here
A worm is a self-replicating malicious program that automatically propagates across networks, often by exploiting vulnerabilities or sending copies to contacts. The scenario describes a user manually installing a fraudulent PDF converter, with no indication of autonomous spread to other systems. The symptoms—homepage alteration, disabled security tool, and recurring outbound connections—are more consistent with a trojan's disguised payload than with worm propagation. Therefore, calling it a worm misclassifies the infection vector, which is deceptive installation, not network-based self-replication.
- ✓
Trojan, because it masquerades as useful software while delivering hidden malicious functionality.
Why this is correct
A trojan is designed to look legitimate so users willingly install it, which matches the fake PDF converter. The changed homepage, disabled security tool, and recurring outbound connections are classic signs that the program is not behaving like the advertised utility. Trojans often install additional payloads, create persistence, or open remote access without the user realizing the original software was malicious.
- ✗
Rootkit, because the attacker must have hidden files in the kernel.
Why it's wrong here
A rootkit is a stealthy set of tools designed to hide malicious activity, often by modifying kernel-level functions or system libraries to evade detection. While an attacker might later deploy a rootkit to maintain covert access, the initial infection in this scenario begins with the user willingly installing a fake PDF converter—evidence of a trojan, not a rootkit. No specific behavior described, such as file hiding or elevated privilege to the kernel, supports a rootkit as the primary classification. The rootkit answer focuses on a possible post-compromise technique rather than the actual delivery mechanism, which is masquerading as benign software.
- ✗
Spyware, because the main symptom is that the browser homepage changed.
Why it's wrong here
Spyware is defined by its primary purpose of covertly collecting user information, such as keystrokes or browsing habits, and typically does not disable security tools or create persistent remote access on its own. The changed homepage could be a symptom of adware or browser hijacking, but the broader picture—a user-installed program that claims to be a PDF converter yet establishes recurring outbound connections and disables defenses—points to a trojan. The trojan classifier is more precise because it emphasizes the deceptive installer as the root cause, whereas spyware would only describe a subset of the malicious behavior observed. Thus, focusing solely on the homepage change overlooks the entire infection chain initiated by the fake utility.
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Same concept, more angles
2 more ways this is tested on SY0-701
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. After a user installs a free PDF converter from an unofficial website, the laptop starts making periodic outbound connections to an unknown server, the browser homepage changes, and a new program launches at logon. What is the most likely malware type?
easy- A.Worm
- ✓ B.Trojan
- C.Rootkit
- D.Ransomware
Why B: The user downloaded and installed a program that appears legitimate (a PDF converter) but performs malicious actions: making outbound connections, changing browser settings, and adding a startup program. This is the classic behavior of a Trojan horse, which disguises itself as useful software to trick users into installing it, then executes hidden malicious functions. Unlike worms, Trojans do not self-replicate, and unlike ransomware or rootkits, the described symptoms focus on unauthorized remote access and persistence rather than file encryption or deep OS concealment.
Variation 2. After installing a free PDF-to-Word utility from an unofficial website, a user's laptop starts sending data to an unknown server and the security agent is disabled. Which malware type best fits?
easy- ✓ A.Trojan
- B.Worm
- C.Spyware
- D.Rootkit
Why A: A Trojan is malware disguised as legitimate software, such as a free PDF-to-Word utility, that performs malicious actions without the user's knowledge. In this scenario, the Trojan exfiltrates data to an unknown server and disables the security agent, which are classic Trojan behaviors—unlike self-replicating worms or passive spyware. The user's intentional download from an unofficial website is the typical infection vector for Trojans.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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