A cybersecurity analyst is investigating a Windows host for signs of a persistent malware infection. The malware is not found in common startup folders. The analyst believes the malware is being launched by a modification to the system's core configuration database. Which system component should the analyst primarily focus on to locate this type of persistence mechanism?
The Windows Registry is a hierarchical database that stores low-level settings for the operating system and for applications that use the registry. Attackers frequently modify registry keys, such as the Run keys, to have their malicious programs execute automatically at startup or user login, thereby establishing persistence. The Master File Table (MFT) is a core component of the NTFS file system that tracks all file information, not system configuration settings. The Security Account Manager (SAM) is a specific database (and registry hive) that stores local user password hashes. Group Policy Objects (GPOs) are used to manage and deploy configuration settings, which are ultimately written to the registry, but the registry itself is the underlying database to be investigated for the changes.
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