Question 1easymultiple choice
Full question →easymultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Exhibit
EDR Alert - WS-14 Time: 03:14:22 Parent process: svchost.exe Child process: powershell.exe -NoProfile -WindowStyle Hidden -EncodedCommand <redacted> Network activity: HTTPS request to hxxps://updates-check[.]com/a7 File creation: none detected Registry change: Run key modified under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Based on the exhibit, what type of threat is the security team most likely seeing on the workstation?
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
Trojan
A trojan is usually disguised as legitimate software, but the exhibit focuses on in-memory execution and hidden scripting rather than a fake installer.
B
Best answer
Fileless malware
The alert shows PowerShell launching with encoded commands, hidden execution, and no suspicious file written to disk. That behavior strongly suggests fileless malware, which relies on built-in tools and memory rather than dropping a traditional executable. The registry change also indicates persistence without a visible file-based payload.
C
Distractor review
Worm
A worm typically self-replicates across hosts using a network vulnerability. The exhibit does not show spreading behavior or replication to other systems.
D
Distractor review
Rootkit
A rootkit is designed to hide malware or provide stealthy privileged access. The exhibit instead shows suspicious scripting and network activity, not concealment of kernel-level components.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
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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?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Fileless malware — Fileless malware is the best match because the execution pattern relies on PowerShell, hidden arguments, and encoded commands, while no executable is written to disk. Security tools often see this as suspicious script activity launched from a legitimate process. Attackers use this approach to reduce file-based detection and operate mainly in memory, making investigation harder than with a traditional installed program. Why others are wrong: A trojan would usually involve a deceptive program or installer, which is not shown here. A worm would be expected to spread laterally to other systems, but the exhibit only shows one host. A rootkit is focused on stealth and concealment at a deeper system level, while the evidence here points to in-memory scripting and persistence.
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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