ASEP entries are associated with which Windows feature used for startup configuration persistence?

• A. Windows 'autoruns'
• B. Windows Task Scheduler
• C. Windows Registry Editor
• D. Windows Defender Antivirus

Answer: (A)

Startup persistence in Windows relies on autostart points that run at boot or logon, stored in various locations like registry Run keys, the Startup folder, services, and more. ASEP entries are the artifacts tied to these autostart mechanisms. The Windows feature designed to reveal, manage, and audit all of these startup points is Autoruns from Sysinternals. It catalogs every autostart location and shows what will execute on startup, making it the go-to tool for understanding and controlling startup configuration persistence. While other features like Task Scheduler can also be used to persist actions, ASEP entries specifically align with the autorun infrastructure exposed by Autoruns.