Which type of malware uses firmware on hardware components to compromise devices?

Which type of malware uses firmware on hardware components to compromise devices?

• A. Divergent
• B. Disk-based malware
• C. Antivirus sensor system
• D. Device-based malware

Answer: (D)

The situation being tested is firmware-level persistence: malware that embeds itself in the firmware of hardware components to control or compromise a device. Device-based malware resides in the firmware—the low-level code stored on hardware controllers such as BIOS/UEFI, NICs, SSD controllers, printers, and other devices. Because it lives in firmware, it can execute before the operating system loads, endure OS reinstallations, and often evade conventional security tools that scan only files on disk. That makes it the best fit for “uses firmware on hardware components to compromise devices.” Disk-based malware, by contrast, lives on the disk and is more easily removed by reinstalling or reformatting the system. The other option, typically not a standard malware category in this context, and antivirus sensor systems refer to security features rather than malware types.

The situation being tested is firmware-level persistence: malware that embeds itself in the firmware of hardware components to control or compromise a device. Device-based malware resides in the firmware—the low-level code stored on hardware controllers such as BIOS/UEFI, NICs, SSD controllers, printers, and other devices. Because it lives in firmware, it can execute before the operating system loads, endure OS reinstallations, and often evade conventional security tools that scan only files on disk. That makes it the best fit for “uses firmware on hardware components to compromise devices.” Disk-based malware, by contrast, lives on the disk and is more easily removed by reinstalling or reformatting the system. The other option, typically not a standard malware category in this context, and antivirus sensor systems refer to security features rather than malware types.