XDR-Engineer Cortex XDR Agent Configuration Practice Question
When configuring a custom Malware Protection profile, an administrator wants to enable prevention for greyware (Potentially Unwanted Applications - PUA). What action does the Cortex XDR agent take when a PUA is detected and the profile action is set to 'Block'?
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
✓
Quarantines the file and terminates the running process.
When PUA prevention is set to block, the agent terminates the execution of the application and prevents it from running.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Sends an alert to the console but allows the application to continue running.
Why it's wrong here
This describes a 'Alert only' action, not a 'Block' action.
- ✓
Quarantines the file and terminates the running process.
Why this is correct
Blocking greyware results in process termination and file quarantine.
- ✗
Isolates the entire endpoint from the corporate network.
Why it's wrong here
PUA detection generates alerts and blocks the application, but does not trigger full network isolation unless configured via response actions.
- ✗
Deletes the file permanently from the disk without creating a quarantine backup.
Why it's wrong here
Cortex XDR quarantines files to a secure local folder rather than immediate permanent deletion.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official Palo Alto Networks exam blueprint
This XDR-Engineer practice question is part of Courseiva's free Palo Alto Networks 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 XDR-Engineer exam.