Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

What type of malware is typically used to gain unauthorized access to a system or network?

1. Worms

2. Trojans

3. Adware

4. Ransomware

The correct answer is: Trojans

Trojans are a type of malware designed to deceive users into executing them, effectively allowing unauthorized access to the victim's system or network. Unlike viruses or worms that can self-replicate and spread, Trojans are often disguised as legitimate software to trick users into installation. Once activated, they can create backdoors, enable remote control by an attacker, or exfiltrate sensitive data, which is why they are particularly favored for gaining unauthorized access. In contrast, worms are self-replicating malware that spread across networks without user intervention, while adware generally focuses on displaying advertisements rather than gaining unauthorized access. Ransomware encrypts files and demands payment for a decryption key, which is a different approach to malicious actions compared to the subtle infiltration tactics used by Trojans.