A program has been discovered that infects a critical Windows system executable and stays dormant in
memory. When a Windows mobile phone is connected to the host, the program infects the phone’s boot
loader and continues to target additional Windows PCs or phones. Which of the following malware
categories BEST describes this program?
A.
Zero-day
B.
Trojan
C.
Virus
D.
Rootkit
Explanation:
A computer virus is a program or piece of code that is loaded onto your computer without your
knowledge and runs against your wishes. Viruses can also replicate themselves. All computer viruses are
man-made. A simple virus that can make a copy of itself over and over again is relatively easy to produce.Even such a simple virus is dangerous because it will quickly use all available memory and bring the
system to a halt. An even more dangerous type of virus is one capable of transmitting itself across
networks and bypassing security systems.
Some people distinguish between general viruses and worms. A worm is a special type of virus that can
replicate itself and use memory, but cannot attach itself to other programs.
Incorrect Answers:
A: A zero day vulnerability refers to a hole in software that is unknown to the vendor. This security hole is
then exploited by hackers before the vendor becomes aware and hurries to fix it—this exploit is called a
zero day attack. Uses of zero day attacks can include infiltrating malware, spyware or allowing unwanted
access to user information. The term “zero day” refers to the unknown nature of the hole to those
outside of the hackers, specifically, the developers. Once the vulnerability becomes known, a race begins
for the developer, who must protect users. A zero-day vulnerability is not described in this question.
B: In computers, a Trojan is a program in which malicious or harmful code is contained inside apparently
harmless programming or data in such a way that it can get control and do its chosen form of damage,
such as ruining the file allocation table on your hard disk. In one celebrated case, a Trojan was a program
that was supposed to find and destroy computer viruses. A Trojan horse may be widely redistributed as
part of a computer virus. A Trojan is not what is being described in this question.
A Trojan is not what is described in this question.
D: A rootkit is a stealthy type of software, typically malicious, designed to hide the existence of certain
processes or programs from normal methods of detection and enable continued privileged access to a
computer. A rootkit is not what is described in this question.http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/V/virus.html
http://www.pctools.com/security-news/zero-day-vulnerability/