You’re analyzing a system suspected of being compromised. You found a file named log.txt that is unusually large. This could be an example of:

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

When evaluating what an unusually large log.txt file could indicate, we should consider what each option implies about system activity.
Option a: Steganography. This technique hides secret information within other non-secret data (like images or audio). A large log file does not inherently indicate hidden data within media; steganography is more about covert data embedding than generating voluminous log files. This makes this choice unlikely as an explanation for an oversized log.txt.
Option b: Network Sniffing. Network sniffing involves capturing network traffic for analysis. While it can generate logs, the presence of a single unusually large log.txt does not by itself point to traffic capture; it could be many things, and large logs are commonly produced by verbose event logging or other processes, not exclusively network sniffing. This weakens the case for network sniffing as the best single explanation here.
Option c: Keylogging. A keylogger records keystrokes and often stores them in log files for later retrieval. A notably large log.txt is a classic symptom of keystroke logging activity, since every key press or sequence may be logged over time, leading to substantial file growth. This aligns well with the concept of keylogging being responsible for a big log file.
Option d: Phishing. Phishing is a social engineering tactic aimed at tricking users into revealing sensitive information. It does not inherently produce large log files on the victim’s system; rather, it concerns deception and credential theft. Therefore, phishing is not a direct explanation for a large log.txt.
In summary, the anomaly of an unusually large log.txt most plausibly points to a keystroke capture mechanism like keylogging, since such tools generate continuous textual records of user input that accumulate into big files, whereas the other options describe methods that do not directly explain large local log growth. The reasoning for each alternative highlights how they differ from the observed symptom and why they are less likely explanations for the large log file.

Practical CTF Strategies (112025-MHH) Mini CTF Lab Challenges Series - Computer Forensic

You’re analyzing a system suspected of being compromised. You found a file named log.txt that is unusually large. This could be an example of:

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

Water on MarsYou join a team of astronaut, landed on this beautiful red planet and manage to capture an image of that planet. Once you come back to earth, you look again into the picture, something seems weird with the picture. Find it and wrap it in apuCTF{flag}Flag format: apuCTF{flag}

You’ve just received a suspicious image file that may contain hidden data. Which of the following tools would you use to analyze it?

You’ve been given a task to hide a secret message within a video file. Which of the following tools would you use?

In a consumer society, many adults channel creativity into buying things

Economic stress and unpredictable times have resulted in a booming industry for self-help products

People born without creativity never can develop it

A product has a selling price of $20, a contribution margin ratio of 40% and fixed cost of $120,000. To make a profit of $30,000. The number of units that must be sold is: Type the number without $ and a comma. Eg: 20000

Which of the following statement regarding cost is correct:

More Practical Tools for Students Powered by AI Study Helper

Homework AI Solver

Stylized AI Paper Writer

Plagiarism Checker Assistant

Citation AI Academic Writing Tool

In-Class Translation Assistant

AI Note Generator

AI Quiz Answers

Past Exam Questions from University Test Bank

Smart Practice Assistant

Adaptive Practice

Making Your Study Simpler