Which file extension is associated with executable programs and increases risk of exploitation?

• A. .exe
• B. .txt
• C. .pdf
• D. .docx

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that executable programs are code that can run on your computer. An .exe file is a Windows executable; when you open it, the operating system runs the program’s instructions. Because executing code directly can perform actions like installing software, changing settings, or pulling in malware, .exe files carry the highest risk of exploitation. Attackers often try to entice users to run these files to deliver malware. Other extensions represent data or documents rather than code that runs automatically: plain text files are just text, and PDF or Word documents may contain interactive features or embedded scripts/macros, which can be dangerous if enabled, but they’re not executable binaries by default.