Users have reported their files have disappeared, and they are unable to access local data. The security administrator quarantined all affected systems and removed any remote connectivity; however…

Question

Options

• ARootkit installation
• BData backup failure
• COS update failure
• DRansomware attack
• EBrowser redirection

• A
  62% (18)
• B
  3% (1)
• C
  21% (6)
• D
  10% (3)
• E
  3% (1)

Explanation

A rootkit is malware that embeds itself deep within the operating system - often at the kernel level - to hide its presence and intercept system calls. This explains all the symptoms: files appear 'disappeared' because the rootkit hides them from the file system; applications fail because rootkit hooks intercept and corrupt OS calls; PC performance is largely unaffected because rootkits are designed to be stealthy, not resource-hungry. Critically, removing remote connectivity did NOT resolve the issue, meaning the cause is local and persistent - consistent with a deeply embedded rootkit. Ransomware (D) would have encrypted files and typically displays a ransom note; it also tends to spike CPU/disk during encryption. Data backup failure (B) and OS update failure (C) do not cause files to be hidden or applications to fail. Browser redirection (E) is a network/browser issue unrelated to local file access.

No community discussion yet for this question.