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PCDRA · Question #102

PCDRA Question #102: Real Exam Question with Answer & Explanation

The correct answer is D: encrypting certain files to prevent access by the victim. Ransomware is a type of malicious software, or malware, that encrypts certain files or data on the victim's system or network and prevents them from accessing their data until they pay a ransom. This is by far the most common tactic used by ransomware to shut down a victim's oper

Submitted by the_admin· Apr 18, 2026Investigation and Response

Question

What is by far the most common tactic used by ransomware to shut down a victim's operation?

Options

  • Apreventing the victim from being able to access APIs to cripple infrastructure
  • Bdenying traffic out of the victims network until payment is received
  • Crestricting access to administrative accounts to the victim
  • Dencrypting certain files to prevent access by the victim

Explanation

Ransomware is a type of malicious software, or malware, that encrypts certain files or data on the victim's system or network and prevents them from accessing their data until they pay a ransom. This is by far the most common tactic used by ransomware to shut down a victim's operation, as it can cause costly disruptions, data loss, and reputational damage. Ransomware can affect individual users, businesses, and organizations of all kinds. Ransomware can spread through various methods, such as phishing emails, malicious attachments, compromised websites, or network vulnerabilities. Some ransomware variants can also self-propagate and infect other devices or networks. Ransomware authors typically demand payment in cryptocurrency or other untraceable methods, and may threaten to delete or expose the encrypted data if the ransom is not paid within a certain time frame. However, paying the ransom does not guarantee that the files will be decrypted or that the attackers will not target the victim again. Therefore, the best way to protect against ransomware is to prevent infection in the first place, and to have a backup of the data in case of an attack.

Topics

#Ransomware#Malware tactics#Cyber attacks#File encryption

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