The following methods will detect or defeat hardware keylogging except:

Question

Options

• AVirus scanner
• BPhysical inspection
• CMonitoring file writes
• DSniffer

• A
  70% (28)
• B
  5% (2)
• C
  18% (7)
• D
  8% (3)

Explanation

A virus scanner operates purely in software, scanning files and processes in memory - it has no mechanism to detect a physical device plugged into a port between the keyboard and the computer, which is exactly what a hardware keylogger is.

Why the distractors are wrong (i.e., they DO work against hardware keyloggers):

• B. Physical inspection works because hardware keyloggers are tangible devices - a visual check of ports and cables can reveal an unfamiliar dongle or inline device.
• C. Monitoring file writes can catch hardware keyloggers that store captured keystrokes to internal flash memory or write logs to a connected drive.
• D. Sniffer can detect wireless hardware keyloggers (e.g., RF or Wi-Fi enabled) that transmit captured keystrokes over a network.

Memory tip: The key word is hardware - anything that defeats a hardware keylogger must engage with the physical or network layer. A virus scanner lives entirely in software and is blind to physical hardware, making it the odd one out. If you see "hardware threat + software-only tool," that tool won't work.

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