- A
A process injects into explorer.exe and monitors keyboard and clipboard activity.
Process injection into a user shell process combined with keyboard and clipboard monitoring is highly consistent with spyware. Those behaviors are designed to silently capture sensitive information such as credentials, messages, and copied data while blending into normal desktop activity. That stealthy information-gathering focus is a hallmark of spyware.
- B
The host sends repeated HTTPS beacons to a domain registered two days ago.
Regular beacons to a newly registered domain suggest command-and-control or data exfiltration infrastructure. Spyware commonly phones home on a schedule to send harvested data or receive instructions. The short domain age does not prove malice by itself, but in context it is a strong compromise indicator.
- C
User files are renamed with a new extension and a ransom note appears.
Why wrong: Renamed files and ransom notes are classic signs of ransomware, not spyware. Ransomware focuses on extortion through encryption or disruption, while spyware focuses on covert collection of data. This behavior points to a different malware family and does not match the scenario described.
- D
CPU usage spikes only during a scheduled operating system update.
Why wrong: Temporary CPU usage during a scheduled update is normal and does not imply malware. Without further evidence such as suspicious processes, odd network destinations, or unauthorized persistence, this is not a useful spyware indicator. It is more likely to be ordinary maintenance activity.
- E
The browser certificate store was refreshed after applying a patch.
Why wrong: Refreshing the certificate store after a patch is a normal administrative event. It does not indicate keylogging, exfiltration, or covert monitoring. While certificate manipulation can be malicious in some attacks, this specific detail is routine and not aligned with the spyware behaviors in the scenario.
Quick Answer
The answer is the repeated HTTPS beacons to a recently registered domain, combined with process injection into explorer.exe to capture keyboard and clipboard events. These two findings are most consistent with spyware because spyware operates covertly to steal sensitive data—such as credentials or personal information—by injecting malicious code into trusted system processes like explorer.exe, which allows it to monitor user input without raising suspicion. The repeated outbound beacons to a domain registered only two days ago indicate data exfiltration to a command-and-control server, a hallmark of spyware’s stealthy communication pattern. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish spyware from ransomware or trojans: spyware avoids file encryption or ransom notes, focusing instead on silent data theft. A common trap is mistaking the beacons for a botnet, but the key differentiator is the process injection combined with input capture. Memory tip: Spyware “spies” on input—think “inject and exfiltrate,” not “encrypt and extort.”
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.
During a workstation review, analysts find a process injecting into explorer.exe and reading keyboard and clipboard events. They also see repeated outbound HTTPS beacons to a domain registered two days ago. The host is not renaming files or displaying a ransom note. Which two findings are most consistent with spyware? Select two.
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
A process injects into explorer.exe and monitors keyboard and clipboard activity.
Option A is correct because process injection into a trusted system process like explorer.exe, combined with monitoring keyboard and clipboard events, is a classic spyware technique. Spyware aims to covertly capture sensitive user input (keystrokes and clipboard data) for exfiltration, without causing immediate system damage or displaying a ransom note.
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.
- ✓
A process injects into explorer.exe and monitors keyboard and clipboard activity.
Why this is correct
Process injection into a user shell process combined with keyboard and clipboard monitoring is highly consistent with spyware. Those behaviors are designed to silently capture sensitive information such as credentials, messages, and copied data while blending into normal desktop activity. That stealthy information-gathering focus is a hallmark of spyware.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
The host sends repeated HTTPS beacons to a domain registered two days ago.
Why this is correct
Regular beacons to a newly registered domain suggest command-and-control or data exfiltration infrastructure. Spyware commonly phones home on a schedule to send harvested data or receive instructions. The short domain age does not prove malice by itself, but in context it is a strong compromise indicator.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
User files are renamed with a new extension and a ransom note appears.
Why it's wrong here
Renamed files and ransom notes are classic signs of ransomware, not spyware. Ransomware focuses on extortion through encryption or disruption, while spyware focuses on covert collection of data. This behavior points to a different malware family and does not match the scenario described.
- ✗
CPU usage spikes only during a scheduled operating system update.
Why it's wrong here
Temporary CPU usage during a scheduled update is normal and does not imply malware. Without further evidence such as suspicious processes, odd network destinations, or unauthorized persistence, this is not a useful spyware indicator. It is more likely to be ordinary maintenance activity.
- ✗
The browser certificate store was refreshed after applying a patch.
Why it's wrong here
Refreshing the certificate store after a patch is a normal administrative event. It does not indicate keylogging, exfiltration, or covert monitoring. While certificate manipulation can be malicious in some attacks, this specific detail is routine and not aligned with the spyware behaviors in the scenario.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse spyware with ransomware (option C) or mistake normal system maintenance (options D and E) for malicious activity, failing to recognize that spyware's defining characteristics are stealthy data capture and covert C2 communication without overt file encryption or ransom demands.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Renamed files and ransom notes are classic signs of ransomware, not spyware. Ransomware focuses on extortion through encryption or disruption, while spyware focuses on covert collection of data. This behavior points to a different malware family and does not match the scenario described.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Process injection into explorer.exe often uses techniques like DLL injection or reflective DLL loading to evade detection by running code within a trusted process's memory space. Monitoring keyboard and clipboard events is achieved via Windows hooks (SetWindowsHookEx) or polling the clipboard API (GetClipboardData), allowing the spyware to capture credentials, personal messages, or other sensitive data. The repeated HTTPS beacons to a recently registered domain indicate command-and-control (C2) communication, where the spyware exfiltrates collected data or receives instructions, using HTTPS to blend with normal web traffic.
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
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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: A process injects into explorer.exe and monitors keyboard and clipboard activity. — Option A is correct because process injection into a trusted system process like explorer.exe, combined with monitoring keyboard and clipboard events, is a classic spyware technique. Spyware aims to covertly capture sensitive user input (keystrokes and clipboard data) for exfiltration, without causing immediate system damage or displaying a ransom note.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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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