Question 602 of 1,152

Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The answer is a Trojan, because this malware type is specifically designed to appear as a harmless or desirable utility—like a fake system update—while secretly delivering a malicious payload. Unlike viruses or worms, Trojans rely on social engineering to trick users into executing them, and once activated, they can install password stealers, browser hijackers, or backdoors that exfiltrate credentials and increase outbound traffic to a command-and-control server. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish Trojans from other malware by focusing on the deceptive delivery method rather than self-replication or propagation. A common trap is confusing a Trojan with a worm, but remember: worms spread automatically across networks, while Trojans need user action to run. Memory tip: “Trojan tricks, worm walks”—if it looks legitimate but acts malicious, it’s a Trojan.

SY0-701 Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations Practice Question

This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigations. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 remote user's laptop begins launching a legitimate-looking "System Update" application at login. After the update window appears, the browser homepage changes, outbound traffic increases, and the user later reports that saved passwords are being used in unauthorized logins. Which malware type is the most likely primary infection?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.

Question 1mediummultiple choice

Full question →

A
Worm, because it is spreading automatically to nearby systems on the network.
Why wrong: A worm would typically show self-replication behavior across multiple hosts, which is not the main symptom here.
B
Trojan, because it is disguised as a harmless utility while delivering malicious payloads.
A trojan commonly masquerades as a legitimate application, then installs or runs additional malicious functions such as credential theft and persistence.
C
Ransomware, because files would be encrypted and a payment demand would appear.
Why wrong: Ransomware usually announces itself through file encryption or extortion messaging, which is not described in the scenario.
D
Rootkit, because the malware is hiding its own presence by modifying kernel behavior.
Why wrong: Rootkits focus on concealment and stealth at the system level; the visible fake updater and browser changes point more strongly to a trojan.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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 is disguised as a harmless utility while delivering malicious payloads.

Option B is correct because the malware is disguised as a legitimate 'System Update' application, which is the classic behavior of a Trojan. Trojans rely on social engineering to trick users into executing them, and once activated, they can deliver secondary payloads such as password stealers, browser hijackers, or backdoors. In this scenario, the Trojan likely installed a keylogger or credential harvester to exfiltrate saved passwords, changed browser settings via registry or configuration file manipulation, and increased outbound traffic to a command-and-control (C2) server.

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.

✗
Worm, because it is spreading automatically to nearby systems on the network.
Why it's wrong here
A worm would typically show self-replication behavior across multiple hosts, which is not the main symptom here.
✓
Trojan, because it is disguised as a harmless utility while delivering malicious payloads.
Why this is correct
A trojan commonly masquerades as a legitimate application, then installs or runs additional malicious functions such as credential theft and persistence.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "most likely", "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Ransomware, because files would be encrypted and a payment demand would appear.
Why it's wrong here
Ransomware usually announces itself through file encryption or extortion messaging, which is not described in the scenario.
✗
Rootkit, because the malware is hiding its own presence by modifying kernel behavior.
Why it's wrong here
Rootkits focus on concealment and stealth at the system level; the visible fake updater and browser changes point more strongly to a trojan.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates may confuse the visible symptoms (browser change, increased traffic) with a worm's network propagation or a rootkit's stealth, but the key indicator is the social engineering disguise of the 'System Update' application, which is the hallmark of a Trojan.

Trap categories for this question

Command / output trap
A worm would typically show self-replication behavior across multiple hosts, which is not the main symptom here.
Scenario analysis trap
Ransomware usually announces itself through file encryption or extortion messaging, which is not described in the scenario.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Under the hood, a Trojan like this often uses DLL sideloading or process hollowing to inject malicious code into a trusted process (e.g., svchost.exe) to evade detection. The 'System Update' window may be a decoy that downloads additional components from a C2 server via HTTP POST requests, while the stolen passwords are likely extracted from browser credential stores (e.g., Chrome's Login Data SQLite database) and exfiltrated over encrypted channels like HTTPS or DNS tunneling. In real-world attacks, such Trojans are frequently delivered via phishing emails or drive-by downloads and can disable Windows Defender using PowerShell commands.

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

An employee at a financial services firm receives an email that appears to come from the IT helpdesk, asking them to reset their password via a link. The link leads to a convincing fake portal that harvests credentials. Security teams use phishing simulations and security-awareness training to reduce this attack vector. Questions like this test whether you can identify social engineering techniques and appropriate controls.

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.

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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: Trojan, because it is disguised as a harmless utility while delivering malicious payloads. — Option B is correct because the malware is disguised as a legitimate 'System Update' application, which is the classic behavior of a Trojan. Trojans rely on social engineering to trick users into executing them, and once activated, they can deliver secondary payloads such as password stealers, browser hijackers, or backdoors. In this scenario, the Trojan likely installed a keylogger or credential harvester to exfiltrate saved passwords, changed browser settings via registry or configuration file manipulation, and increased outbound traffic to a command-and-control (C2) server.

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: "most likely", "primary". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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