Question 505 of 750

Logical Security Concepts →easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Adware Symptoms: Pop-Up Ads and Toolbars

This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of logical security concepts. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 user complains that their computer is running very slowly, and they see frequent pop-up ads even when no browser is open. They also notice a new toolbar in their browser that they did not install. What is the most likely security issue?

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.

A
A rootkit has hidden itself in the system's firmware.
Why wrong: Rootkits are designed to hide deep in the system, but they typically do not cause pop-up ads or browser toolbars; those are classic adware symptoms.
B
A worm is spreading through the network, consuming bandwidth.
Why wrong: Worms replicate and consume network resources, but they rarely cause pop-up ads or install browser toolbars directly on a single workstation.
C
The system is infected with adware that displays unsolicited advertisements.
Adware is specifically designed to generate revenue through unwanted ads and often bundles toolbars, matching the user's description exactly.
D
A Trojan horse has stolen the user's banking credentials.
Why wrong: While a Trojan could cause performance issues, its primary goal is credential theft, not displaying pop-ups or installing toolbars.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Quick Answer

The correct answer is adware, a type of malware that bombards a system with unsolicited advertisements. Adware symptoms like pop-up ads appearing even when no browser is open and an unauthorized toolbar in the browser are classic indicators, as adware often installs these extras to generate revenue through ad clicks while consuming system resources, which explains the slow performance. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish adware from other threats like spyware or a virus; a common trap is confusing it with a browser hijacker, but adware’s primary goal is displaying ads, not redirecting searches. To remember, think of the “A” in adware standing for “annoying ads” and “added toolbars.”

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

✓

The system is infected with adware that displays unsolicited advertisements.

The symptoms—pop-up ads without a browser open, an unwanted toolbar, and system slowdown—are classic indicators of adware. Adware is a type of potentially unwanted program (PUP) that displays intrusive advertisements, often by injecting ads into system processes or browser sessions, and can degrade performance by consuming CPU and memory resources.

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.

✗
A rootkit has hidden itself in the system's firmware.
Why it's wrong here
Rootkits are designed to hide deep in the system, but they typically do not cause pop-up ads or browser toolbars; those are classic adware symptoms.
✗
A worm is spreading through the network, consuming bandwidth.
Why it's wrong here
Worms replicate and consume network resources, but they rarely cause pop-up ads or install browser toolbars directly on a single workstation.
✓
The system is infected with adware that displays unsolicited advertisements.
Why this is correct
Adware is specifically designed to generate revenue through unwanted ads and often bundles toolbars, matching the user's description exactly.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
A Trojan horse has stolen the user's banking credentials.
Why it's wrong here
While a Trojan could cause performance issues, its primary goal is credential theft, not displaying pop-ups or installing toolbars.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

CompTIA often tests the distinction between adware and other malware types by presenting symptoms that seem like a Trojan or rootkit, but the presence of unsolicited pop-ups and an unwanted toolbar specifically points to adware, not credential theft or stealthy persistence.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Adware often installs as a browser helper object (BHO) or extension that hooks into the browser's rendering engine (e.g., Chromium's extension API or Internet Explorer's BHO interface) to inject ads into web pages. It may also run as a background service that spawns pop-up windows using Windows API calls like CreateWindowEx, bypassing the browser entirely. In real-world scenarios, adware bundles with free software and modifies the Windows Hosts file or DNS settings to redirect traffic to ad servers, further degrading performance.

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 220-1202 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.

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 220-1202 question test?

Logical Security Concepts — This question tests Logical Security Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The system is infected with adware that displays unsolicited advertisements. — The symptoms—pop-up ads without a browser open, an unwanted toolbar, and system slowdown—are classic indicators of adware. Adware is a type of potentially unwanted program (PUP) that displays intrusive advertisements, often by injecting ads into system processes or browser sessions, and can degrade performance by consuming CPU and memory resources.

What should I do if I get this 220-1202 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". 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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