Why does a server show unusual outbound traffic and large data transfers to an external IP? Learn how data exfiltration by malware is detected and why it’s a critical threat—key for CompTIA Security+ (Plus) SY0-701 exam success.
Table of Contents
Question
A network administrator detects unusual outbound traffic from a server, with large amounts of data being sent to an external IP address. What is the most likely explanation?
A. A failed patch update
B. A high-traffic business operation
C. A legitimate backup process
D. Data exfiltration by malware
E. An internal DoS attack
Answer
D. Data exfiltration by malware
Explanation
Large unexpected outbound data transfers often indicate that malware or an attacker is stealing data.
The most likely explanation for a server generating unusual outbound traffic with large amounts of data sent to an external IP address is data exfiltration by malware.
Data exfiltration is the unauthorized transfer, copying, or sending of sensitive data from an organization’s network to an external location controlled by an attacker.
Malware is commonly used to automate this process, establishing outbound connections to unknown or suspicious IP addresses and transferring large volumes of data, often outside of normal business hours or to foreign destinations.
Security monitoring and network traffic analysis identify this activity as abnormal because legitimate business operations rarely involve large, unexpected outbound data flows to unrecognized IPs.
Indicators of data exfiltration include:
- Sudden spikes in outbound data volume.
- Data transfers to unknown or foreign IP addresses.
- Use of non-standard protocols or ports, or encrypted tunnels to evade detection.
- Persistent or scheduled data transfers, sometimes in small chunks to avoid triggering alerts.
This behavior is distinct from normal operations, failed patch updates, or routine backups, which are typically documented, occur at predictable times, and use known, trusted destinations.
Unusual, large outbound data transfers to external IPs are strong indicators of data exfiltration, most often caused by malware or an attacker stealing sensitive information from the organization’s network.
CompTIA Security+ (Plus) SY0-701 certification exam practice question and answer (Q&A) dump with detail explanation and reference available free, helpful to pass the CompTIA Security+ (Plus) SY0-701 exam and earn CompTIA Security+ (Plus) SY0-701 certification.