- A
Resetting all user passwords
Why wrong: Resetting passwords is important but does not remove the backdoor from the system.
- B
Reimaging all affected systems from a known-good backup
Why wrong: Reimaging is effective but the question asks for the MOST critical step; if the backdoor is still present, reimaging might be necessary. However, the scenario implies the backdoor is already identified and removal can be attempted.
- C
Removing the backdoor executable and associated persistence mechanisms
Directly removing the backdoor prevents it from being used again. Combined with patching, this is critical.
- D
Conducting security awareness training for all employees
Why wrong: Training reduces future risk but does not address the current infection.
Question 551 of 1,000
SSCP Incident Response and Recovery Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of incident response and recovery. 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.
After containing a ransomware incident, the incident response team identifies that the attacker gained initial access through a phishing email that installed a backdoor. Which of the following eradication steps is MOST critical to prevent re-infection?
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
✓
Removing the backdoor executable and associated persistence mechanisms
Option C is correct because the primary goal of eradication is to remove the attacker's foothold from the system. Removing the backdoor executable and its associated persistence mechanisms (e.g., scheduled tasks, registry Run keys, or WMI subscriptions) directly eliminates the means by which the attacker can regain access, preventing re-infection from the same vector.
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.
- ✗
Resetting all user passwords
Why it's wrong here
Resetting passwords is important but does not remove the backdoor from the system.
- ✗
Reimaging all affected systems from a known-good backup
Why it's wrong here
Reimaging is effective but the question asks for the MOST critical step; if the backdoor is still present, reimaging might be necessary. However, the scenario implies the backdoor is already identified and removal can be attempted.
- ✓
Removing the backdoor executable and associated persistence mechanisms
Why this is correct
Directly removing the backdoor prevents it from being used again. Combined with patching, this is critical.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Conducting security awareness training for all employees
Why it's wrong here
Training reduces future risk but does not address the current infection.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse eradication with recovery or prevention, choosing reimaging (Option B) or training (Option D) instead of recognizing that removing the attacker's specific foothold is the immediate technical priority to stop re-infection.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Reimaging is effective but the question asks for the MOST critical step; if the backdoor is still present, reimaging might be necessary. However, the scenario implies the backdoor is already identified and removal can be attempted.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Backdoors often establish persistence via mechanisms such as Windows Registry Run keys (e.g., HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run), scheduled tasks (schtasks.exe), or service installations (sc.exe). Simply deleting the executable without removing these persistence points allows the backdoor to re-spawn on reboot. In a real-world scenario, attackers may also use DLL side-loading or WMI event subscriptions, which require careful enumeration using tools like Autoruns or Sysinternals to fully eradicate.
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
An employee at a financial services firm receives an email that appears to come from the IT helpdesk, asking them to reset their password via a link. The link leads to a convincing fake portal that harvests credentials. Security teams use phishing simulations and security-awareness training to reduce this attack vector. Questions like this test whether you can identify social engineering techniques and appropriate controls.
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 SSCP question test?
Incident Response and Recovery — This question tests Incident Response and Recovery — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Removing the backdoor executable and associated persistence mechanisms — Option C is correct because the primary goal of eradication is to remove the attacker's foothold from the system. Removing the backdoor executable and its associated persistence mechanisms (e.g., scheduled tasks, registry Run keys, or WMI subscriptions) directly eliminates the means by which the attacker can regain access, preventing re-infection from the same vector.
What should I do if I get this SSCP 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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This SSCP practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 SSCP exam.
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