Question 191 of 1,013
SY0-701 Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations Practice Question
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.
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often 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.
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.
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.
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.
- ✓
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.
- ✗
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.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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