The answer is using steganography to hide exfiltrated data in image files, paired with log manipulation. These two are common covering tracks techniques because after compromising a system, an attacker must erase forensic evidence of their activity while also concealing stolen data in plain sight. Log manipulation involves clearing, altering, or disabling audit logs to hide the intrusion trail, whereas steganography embeds exfiltrated data within innocuous files like images or audio, making it undetectable during routine network monitoring. On the Certified Ethical Hacker CEH exam, this topic tests your understanding of the post-exploitation phase, where covering tracks is the final step to avoid detection. A common trap is confusing simple file deletion with manipulation—deletion is obvious and often triggers alerts, while subtle log editing or steganography is stealthier. Remember the mnemonic “Hide and Clean”: steganography hides the payload, while log cleaning hides the path.
CEH Enumeration and System Hacking Practice Question
This CEH practice question tests your understanding of enumeration and system hacking. 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.
Which TWO of the following are common techniques for covering tracks after compromising a system? (Select 2)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Manipulating event logs to remove evidence of intrusion
Log manipulation (clearing or altering logs) and using steganography (hiding data in plain sight) are common cover-tracks techniques. Deletion of logs is also common, but manipulation is more specific.
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.
✗
Increasing the frequency of password changes
Why it's wrong here
Password changes do not cover tracks of prior compromise.
✗
Enabling verbose logging for future attacks
Why it's wrong here
Verbose logging would increase evidence, not cover tracks.
✓
Manipulating event logs to remove evidence of intrusion
Why this is correct
Attackers often clear or modify logs to hide their activities.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Using steganography to hide exfiltrated data in image files
Why this is correct
Steganography hides data, making it less detectable during exfiltration.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Setting up a honeypot to distract defenders
Why it's wrong here
Honeypots are defensive, not a cover-tracks technique.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 practitioner preparing for the CEH exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CEH question in full detail.
Identify which CEH exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Enumeration and System Hacking — This question tests Enumeration and System Hacking — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Manipulating event logs to remove evidence of intrusion — Log manipulation (clearing or altering logs) and using steganography (hiding data in plain sight) are common cover-tracks techniques. Deletion of logs is also common, but manipulation is more specific.
What should I do if I get this CEH question wrong?
Identify which CEH exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Which TWO of the following are common techniques used to cover tracks after compromising a system? (Choose TWO.)
easy
A.Running a vulnerability scanner
B.Enabling firewall rules
✓ C.Installing a rootkit
D.Creating new user accounts
✓ E.Clearing event logs
Why C: Clearing event logs removes evidence of attacker activity. Using rootkits hides malicious processes and files. Both are standard covering tracks techniques.
Variation 2. Which THREE of the following are methods for covering tracks after compromising a system? (Select 3)
hard
✓ A.Installing a rootkit to hide files and processes
B.Escalating privileges to SYSTEM
C.Disabling antivirus software
✓ D.Using steganography to hide stolen data in images
✓ E.Clearing event logs
Why A: Covering tracks includes log manipulation (clearing or modifying logs), using rootkits to hide processes/files, and steganography to hide malicious data. Disabling antivirus is more of an evasion technique during the attack, not specifically covering tracks. Privilege escalation is a different phase.
Variation 3. Which THREE of the following are valid techniques for covering tracks after compromising a system? (Select 3 correct answers)
hard
✓ A.Clearing event logs using wevtutil
B.Exploiting SUID binaries to gain root
✓ C.Installing a rootkit to hide malicious processes
✓ D.Using timestomp to modify file timestamps
E.Disabling Windows Defender via Group Policy
Why A: A is correct because wevtutil is a Windows command-line utility used to manage event logs. After compromising a system, an attacker can use 'wevtutil cl' followed by a log name (e.g., 'wevtutil cl System') to clear specific event logs, thereby erasing evidence of their activities. This is a direct and common technique for covering tracks by removing forensic artifacts.
Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
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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.
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