Learn about the common causes of high CPU utilization and slow PC performance. Discover why botnet attacks are the most likely culprit in this CompTIA 220-1102 practice exam question.
Table of Contents
Question
During a routine check, a systems administrator discovers that a user’s PC is running slowly and CPU utilization is at 100%. Further investigation shows a large amount of resource usage. Which of the following is the most likely cause of the high resource usage?
A. Firewall activities
B. Botnet attack
C. DDoS attack
D. Keylogger attack
Answer
B. Botnet attack
Explanation
When a systems administrator notices that a user’s PC is running slowly and CPU utilization is at 100%, it indicates that some process or program is consuming an abnormally high amount of the computer’s processing power. While there could be several potential causes, the most likely explanation in this scenario is a botnet attack.
A botnet is a network of infected computers (known as “bots” or “zombies”) that are under the control of a malicious actor, often without the knowledge of the legitimate users. The attacker can remotely command these compromised machines to perform various nefarious activities, such as sending spam emails, launching DDoS attacks, or mining cryptocurrencies.
Botnet malware often runs resource-intensive tasks in the background, which can lead to high CPU usage and slow down the infected computer considerably. The “large amount of resource usage” mentioned in the question is a key clue pointing to a botnet infection.
Let’s briefly examine why the other answer choices are less likely:
A. Firewall activities: While firewalls do consume some system resources, they typically do not cause sustained 100% CPU usage unless misconfigured or overwhelmed by an extremely high volume of traffic.
C. DDoS attack: In a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack, the target is usually a server or network infrastructure, not an individual user’s PC. The infected computer might participate in a DDoS attack as part of a botnet, but the attack itself would not explain the high resource usage on that specific machine.
D. Keylogger attack: A keylogger is a type of spyware that records a user’s keystrokes to steal sensitive information like login credentials. While a keylogger is a serious security threat, it typically does not consume a large amount of CPU resources.
In conclusion, given the symptoms of high CPU utilization and slow performance on a user’s PC, a botnet attack is the most probable diagnosis. The systems administrator should immediately isolate the affected machine from the network, run up-to-date antivirus and anti-malware scans to remove the botnet malware, and investigate the source and extent of the infection to prevent future occurrences.
CompTIA 220-1102 certification exam assessment practice question and answer (Q&A) dump including multiple choice questions (MCQ) and objective type questions, with detail explanation and reference available free, helpful to pass the CompTIA 220-1102 exam and earn CompTIA 220-1102 certification.