Common Signs of Device Infection
Question
Ann.
An employee in the payroll department, has contacted the help desk citing multiple issues with her device, including: -> Slow performance -> Word documents, PDFs, and images no longer opening -> A pop-up Ann states the issues began after she opened an invoice that a vendor emailed to her.
Upon opening the invoice, she had to click several security warnings to view it in her word processor.
With which of the following is the device MOST likely infected?
Answers
Explanations
Click on the arrows to vote for the correct answer
A. B. C. D.D.
Based on the information provided, the most likely infection on Ann's device is Spyware (option A).
Spyware is a type of malicious software that is designed to gather information about a person or organization without their knowledge. It can be installed on a computer without the user's consent or knowledge and can cause various issues such as slow performance, pop-ups, and changes to the device's settings.
In Ann's case, the fact that she encountered several security warnings when opening the invoice indicates that the file may have contained malicious code that triggered the warnings. Clicking on these warnings could have allowed spyware to be installed on her device.
The symptoms that Ann is experiencing, such as slow performance and difficulty opening documents, are also consistent with spyware. Spyware can consume a significant amount of system resources, causing the device to slow down. Additionally, it can modify files and settings on the device, causing issues with opening files.
The other options - Crypto-malware (option B), Rootkit (option C), and Backdoor (option D) - are less likely based on the information provided.
Crypto-malware is a type of malicious software that encrypts files on a device and demands payment in exchange for the decryption key. There is no mention of any encrypted files in Ann's case, so this is unlikely.
Rootkits are a type of malicious software that allows attackers to maintain access and control over a device. They are typically difficult to detect and remove. While rootkits can cause slow performance, they are less likely to cause issues with opening files, so this is also unlikely.
A backdoor is a method of bypassing normal authentication on a device to gain access. It is typically used by attackers to gain remote access to a device. There is no mention of any unauthorized access or unusual network activity in Ann's case, so this is also unlikely.
In conclusion, based on the symptoms described, the most likely infection on Ann's device is spyware (option A).
