CEH Practice Question: Malware, Social Engineering and Network Attacks
A user reports that their system has become very slow and numerous pop-up ads appear even when browsing is not active. Which type of malware is MOST likely installed?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse adware with spyware, but the key distinguishing factor is the presence of pop-up ads even when no browser is active. Adware is designed to display advertisements, while spyware primarily focuses on covert information gathering.
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
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Adware
Adware is designed to automatically deliver advertisements, often generating pop-up ads even when the browser is not active, and it consumes system resources, causing slowdowns. The user's symptoms—persistent pop-ups and performance degradation—are classic indicators of adware infection, as adware typically runs background processes to fetch and display ads.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Adware
Why this is correct
Adware is specifically designed to generate revenue by displaying unsolicited advertisements, often in the form of pop-up windows, banners, or browser redirects. This constant barrage of ads, coupled with the background processes required to deliver them, significantly consumes system resources like CPU, RAM, and network bandwidth. Consequently, users experience a noticeable degradation in system performance, manifesting as general slowness and unresponsiveness, directly aligning with the reported symptoms.
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Ransomware
Why it's wrong here
Ransomware operates by encrypting a victim's critical files or locking them out of their entire system, rendering data inaccessible until a ransom payment, typically in cryptocurrency, is made. Its primary manifestation is a clear ransom note or screen, not a proliferation of pop-up advertisements or general, gradual system slowdowns. The immediate and severe impact on data availability distinguishes it from the symptoms described, as the user would be unable to access their files.
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Keylogger
Why it's wrong here
A keylogger is a type of surveillance software designed to covertly record every keystroke made on a target system, aiming to capture sensitive information such as login credentials, credit card numbers, and personal communications. This malicious software typically operates silently in the background, without displaying any overt user interface elements like pop-up ads or causing significant, noticeable system performance issues that would alert the user to its presence. Its stealthy data exfiltration mechanism is its defining characteristic, not intrusive advertisements.
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Spyware
Why it's wrong here
Spyware is primarily focused on covertly collecting personal information, browsing habits, and other sensitive data from a user's computer without their knowledge or consent, then transmitting it to a third party. While its background operations can consume system resources and lead to a general system slowdown, its defining characteristic is data exfiltration rather than the pervasive display of unsolicited advertisements. The presence of numerous pop-up ads points more directly to adware as the primary culprit, as spyware's impact on performance is usually a secondary effect.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CEH practice question is part of Courseiva's free EC-Council 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 CEH exam.