CHFI Mobile and Malware Forensics Practice Question
This CHFI practice question tests your understanding of mobile and malware forensics. 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.
A malware analyst is performing dynamic analysis of a suspected trojan in a sandbox environment. Which of the following behaviours are strong indicators that the malware is establishing persistence on the infected system? (Select THREE.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Creating a scheduled task that runs at system startup
Creating a scheduled task that runs at system startup is a classic persistence mechanism. The Task Scheduler API (taskschd.dll) allows malware to register a task that executes at boot or user logon, ensuring the trojan re-executes after a reboot. This is a direct indicator of persistence because it modifies the system's startup behavior.
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.
✓
Creating a scheduled task that runs at system startup
Why this is correct
Scheduled tasks can trigger at boot or logon, ensuring persistence.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Creating a Windows service named 'UpdateService'
Why this is correct
Services can be configured to start automatically at boot, providing persistence.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Connecting to an IP address on port 443
Why it's wrong here
Network connections indicate C2 communication, not persistence.
✓
Writing a value to HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Why this is correct
This registry key runs programs at user logon, a classic persistence technique.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Creating a mutex named 'Global\MyMutex'
Why it's wrong here
Mutexes prevent multiple instances but do not provide persistence.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
EC-Council often tests the distinction between persistence mechanisms and other malware behaviors (like network communication or inter-process synchronization), so the trap here is confusing network activity (C) or mutex creation (E) with persistence, when only startup-modifying actions (A, B, D) qualify.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, scheduled tasks are stored in %SystemRoot%\System32\Tasks as XML files and managed by the Task Scheduler service (svchost.exe). Malware often uses schtasks.exe or the ITaskScheduler COM interface to create tasks with high privileges (e.g., SYSTEM). In real-world scenarios, trojans like Emotet have used scheduled tasks to re-infect systems after cleanup, making them a forensic artifact in timeline analysis.
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 practitioner preparing for the CHFI 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 CHFI question in full detail.
Mobile and Malware Forensics — This question tests Mobile and Malware Forensics — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Creating a scheduled task that runs at system startup — Creating a scheduled task that runs at system startup is a classic persistence mechanism. The Task Scheduler API (taskschd.dll) allows malware to register a task that executes at boot or user logon, ensuring the trojan re-executes after a reboot. This is a direct indicator of persistence because it modifies the system's startup behavior.
What should I do if I get this CHFI 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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Question Discussion
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