Malware and Viruses: Identification and Mitigation Strategies

Question 1

Identify a key characteristic that distinguishes malware from legitimate software:

Accepted Answer

Malware possesses the ability to self-replicate.

Answer

Malware is designed for beneficial purposes.

Answer

Malware is always detectable by antivirus software.

Answer

Malware enhances the user's system performance.

Question 2

Identify the option that is NOT a defining characteristic of malware:

Accepted Answer

Always exhibiting benign behavior

Answer

Ability to self-replicate

Answer

Intent to cause harm or disrupt systems

Answer

Potential for system damage

Question 3

Which specific type of malware encrypts files and demands payment for their release?

Accepted Answer

Ransomware

Answer

Adware

Answer

Spyware

Answer

Trojan horse

Question 4

Which feature of antivirus software is primarily responsible for detecting and removing infected files?

Accepted Answer

Signature-based detection

Answer

Heuristic analysis

Answer

Quarantine

Answer

Behavioral analysis

Question 5

Which tool is specifically designed for network intrusion detection?

Accepted Answer

Network intrusion detection system (NIDS)

Answer

Firewall

Answer

Virtual private network (VPN)

Answer

Anti-malware software

Question 6

Identify the primary function of a firewall:

Accepted Answer

Blocking unauthorized network traffic

Answer

Scanning for viruses and malware

Answer

Encrypting network data

Answer

Performing intrusion detection

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a type of malware?

Accepted Answer

Firewall

Answer

Virus

Answer

Trojan horse

Answer

Logic bomb

Question 8

What is the primary purpose of antivirus software?

Accepted Answer

To detect and remove malicious software

Answer

To protect against data breaches

Answer

To enhance network performance

Answer

To prevent unauthorized access

Question 9

What is the role of signature-based detection in malware identification?

Accepted Answer

Matching malware patterns against a database

Answer

Analyzing malware behavior

Answer

Using heuristics to detect suspicious activity

Answer

Employing machine learning algorithms

Question 10

What is the purpose of a sandbox environment in malware analysis?

Accepted Answer

To isolate and execute suspicious code safely

Answer

To debug malware and identify its vulnerabilities

Answer

To simulate a real-world operating system for testing malware behavior

Answer

To store and manage malware samples

Question 11

Which of the following correctly describes the primary means of infection for a worm, virus, and trojan?

Accepted Answer

Worm: Network vulnerabilities, Virus: Email attachments, Trojan: Social engineering

Answer

Worm: Email attachments, Virus: Network vulnerabilities, Trojan: Drive-by downloads

Answer

Worm: Drive-by downloads, Virus: Social engineering, Trojan: Network vulnerabilities

Question 12

What is the primary purpose of a rootkit?

Accepted Answer

To establish a persistent presence on an infected system, often remaining undetected

Answer

To exfiltrate sensitive data

Answer

To gain remote control of a compromised system

Answer

To encrypt files and demand ransom

Question 13

What is the primary function of a firewall in the context of network security?

Accepted Answer

To prevent unauthorized access to a network by implementing rulesets

Answer

To detect and neutralize malware infections

Answer

To encrypt data transmitted over a network

Answer

To provide a secure connection between two separate networks

Question 14

What is one of the primary benefits of utilizing intrusion detection systems (IDS)?

Accepted Answer

Early detection of network-based attacks or suspicious activities

Answer

Automated response to identified threats

Answer

Elimination of false positive alerts

Answer

Improved overall network performance

Question 15

How does vulnerability scanning contribute to malware prevention?

Accepted Answer

By identifying potential security weaknesses that could be exploited by malware

Answer

By detecting existing malware infections

Answer

By automatically patching software vulnerabilities to prevent exploitation

Answer

By recovering data lost due to malware infections

Question 16

What is the primary objective of implementing network segmentation in cybersecurity?

Accepted Answer

To isolate critical network segments from potential threats and limit the spread of attacks

Answer

To reduce network bandwidth consumption and optimize performance

Answer

To improve overall network performance

Answer

To simplify network management and administration

Question 17

Which type of malware encrypts files and demands payment to unlock them?

Accepted Answer

Ransomware

Answer

Adware

Answer

Trojan

Answer

Spyware

Question 18

What is the main purpose of antivirus software?

Accepted Answer

To detect and eliminate malicious code from devices

Answer

To optimize system performance

Answer

To store and safeguard sensitive data

Question 19

Which of these actions is a recommended defense against malware attacks?

Accepted Answer

Regular software updates

Answer

Opening suspicious email attachments

Answer

Disabling security software

Question 20

What is the primary function of firewalls in malware defense?

Accepted Answer

To block unauthorized network traffic

Answer

To back up system files

Answer

To detect and quarantine malicious files

Answer

To encrypt sensitive data

Question 21

Which key characteristic distinguishes botnets from other types of malware?

Accepted Answer

Networks of compromised computers controlled remotely

Answer

Short-lived malicious programs

Answer

Isolated infections on individual devices

Question 22

How do macro viruses differ from file infector viruses?

Accepted Answer

Macro viruses infect Microsoft Office documents, while file infector viruses target executable files.

Answer

Macro viruses are more pervasive than file infector viruses.

Question 23

Which of the following actions minimizes the risk of malware infections?

Accepted Answer

Avoid downloading files from untrustworthy sources

Answer

Ignore software update notifications

Answer

Disable antivirus software

Answer

Open all email attachments received

Question 24

What is the primary role of intrusion detection systems (IDSs)?

Accepted Answer

To monitor network traffic for suspicious activity

Answer

To encrypt data for protection

Answer

To provide real-time information on potential threats

Answer

To block access to malicious websites