Introduction to Cybersecurity 3.0 Course Final Exam Answers Full 100% 2023 2024
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What is the main purpose of cyberwarfare?
- To protect cloud-based data centers
- To simulate possible war scenarios among nations
- To gain advantage over adversaries
- To develop advanced network devices
Explanation & Hint: The main purpose of cyberwarfare is to gain an advantage over adversaries through the use of cyberattacks and cyberdefense techniques in the digital realm. Cyberwarfare involves using technology and computer networks to achieve various objectives, which can include:
- Espionage: Gathering intelligence or sensitive information from other nations, organizations, or individuals. This could involve hacking into computer systems to steal classified data.
- Sabotage: Disrupting or damaging the operations of an adversary. This might include launching cyberattacks to disrupt critical infrastructure, such as power grids or communication networks.
- Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks: Overloading target systems with traffic to make them unavailable to users. This can be used to disrupt an adversary’s operations.
- Propaganda and Disinformation: Spreading false information or propaganda to manipulate public opinion or create confusion in the target nation or organization.
- Defensive Measures: Protecting one’s own networks and data from cyber threats and attacks. This involves developing and implementing security measures to safeguard information and infrastructure.
Cyberwarfare is not typically about protecting cloud-based data centers, simulating war scenarios, or developing advanced network devices, although those activities can be related to cybersecurity and national defense efforts. Instead, its primary goal is to achieve strategic or tactical objectives in the digital domain, which can range from intelligence gathering to causing disruption or damage to an adversary’s capabilities.
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Which of the following are categories of security measures or controls?
Choose three correct answers
- Policy and procedure
- Camera
- Technology
- Firewalls
- Guards
- Awareness, training and education
Explanation & Hint: The following are categories of security measures or controls:
- Policy and procedure: Security policies and procedures are essential for defining the rules and guidelines that govern an organization’s security practices. They establish a framework for how security is managed and enforced within an organization.
- Technology: Technology-based security measures encompass a wide range of tools and solutions designed to protect information and systems. This includes firewalls, intrusion detection systems, encryption, antivirus software, and more.
- Awareness, training, and education: Security awareness, training, and education programs are crucial for ensuring that employees and users are aware of security best practices and can follow them. Educating users helps prevent security breaches caused by human error.
While cameras and guards can also be components of physical security measures, they are not typically categorized as security measures or controls in the same way that policy and procedure, technology, and awareness, training, and education are.
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Which of the following statements best describes cybersecurity?
- It is an ongoing effort to protect Internet-connected systems and the data associated with those systems from unauthorized use or harm
- It is a standard-based model for developing firewall technologies to fight against cybercrime
- It is the name of a comprehensive security application for end users to protect workstations from being attacked
- It is a framework for security policy development
Explanation & Hint: The statement that best describes cybersecurity is:
“It is an ongoing effort to protect Internet-connected systems and the data associated with those systems from unauthorized use or harm.”
Cybersecurity encompasses a wide range of practices and measures to safeguard digital systems, networks, and data from threats, including unauthorized access, data breaches, cyberattacks, and other forms of harm. It’s an ongoing and dynamic field that focuses on protecting Internet-connected systems and the information stored or transmitted through those systems. The other statements do not provide as accurate a description of cybersecurity.
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What vulnerability occurs when the output of an event depends on ordered or timed outputs?
- Access control problems
- Buffer overflow
- Weaknesses in security practices
- Non-validated input
- Race conditions
Explanation & Hint: The vulnerability that occurs when the output of an event depends on ordered or timed outputs is known as “Race conditions.” Race conditions are a type of concurrency-related vulnerability where the behavior of a system depends on the relative timing of events, and this timing can be manipulated by an attacker to gain unauthorized access or achieve unintended outcomes. It’s a common issue in multi-threaded or multi-process environments where different threads or processes can interfere with each other’s execution. Access control problems, buffer overflows, weaknesses in security practices, and non-validated input are different types of vulnerabilities or security issues, but they are not specifically related to the timing and ordering of events as race conditions are.
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What is the purpose of a backdoor?
- To allow developers to debug software
- For government access
- To gain unauthorized access to a system without normal authentication procedures
- To enable software vendors to update software
Explanation & Hint: The purpose of a backdoor is:
“To gain unauthorized access to a system without normal authentication procedures.”
A backdoor is a hidden or covert means of accessing a computer system, network, or software application without going through the usual authentication or security mechanisms. While backdoors may occasionally be used for legitimate purposes, such as by developers for debugging or by software vendors for updates, they can also be exploited by malicious individuals or organizations to gain unauthorized access for malicious purposes. In some cases, governments or law enforcement agencies may also use backdoors for surveillance or investigative purposes, but the use of such backdoors is a subject of significant debate and controversy due to privacy and security concerns.
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What name is given to a group of bots, connected through the Internet, with the ability to be controlled by a malicious individual or group?
- Hacker network
- Crime syndicate
- Zombie
- Botnet
Explanation & Hint: A group of bots connected through the Internet with the ability to be controlled by a malicious individual or group is called a “Botnet.” Botnets are often used for various malicious purposes, such as launching distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, spreading malware, sending spam emails, stealing sensitive information, and more. The compromised devices in a botnet are typically referred to as “zombies,” and they are under the remote control of the person or group that created the botnet.
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Which technology creates a security token that allows a user to log in to a desired web application using credentials from a social media website?
- In-private browsing mode
- Password manager
- VPN service
- Open authorization
Explanation & Hint: The technology that creates a security token that allows a user to log in to a desired web application using credentials from a social media website is “Open Authorization,” commonly known as OAuth.
OAuth is an authentication and authorization protocol that allows a user to grant limited access to their resources on one website (like a social media platform) to another website or application without sharing their credentials (like a username and password). This can be used for single sign-on and access delegation, making it easier for users to access various online services without needing separate credentials for each service.
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A medical office employee sends emails to patients about their recent visits to the facility.
What information would put the privacy of the patients at risk if it was included in the email?
- Next appointment
- First and last name
- Contact information
- Patient records
Explanation & Hint: Including patient records in the email would put the privacy of the patients at significant risk. Patient records typically contain sensitive and personal medical information, and the unauthorized disclosure of such information can violate patient privacy laws and regulations, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the United States.
The other pieces of information mentioned, such as next appointment, first and last name, and contact information, are generally considered to be less sensitive than full patient records. However, it’s still important to exercise caution when communicating any patient-related information to ensure patient privacy is maintained. In some jurisdictions and under specific privacy regulations, even sharing a patient’s name and contact information without consent can be a violation of privacy.
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Which of the following security implementations use biometrics?
Choose two correct answers
- Phone
- Credit card
- Voice recognition
- Fob
- Fingerprint
Explanation & Hint: The security implementations that use biometrics are:
- Voice recognition: Voice recognition technology uses a person’s unique vocal characteristics to verify their identity. It is a biometric method of authentication.
- Fingerprint: Fingerprint recognition is a common biometric method that relies on a person’s unique fingerprint patterns for authentication.
The other options, such as “Phone,” “Credit card,” and “Fob,” typically do not directly use biometric data for authentication, although they may support biometric authentication methods as a security feature. For example, many modern smartphones support fingerprint or facial recognition for unlocking the device or authorizing payments, but the phone itself is not a biometric security implementation.
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Which of the following firewalls filters ports and system service calls on a single computer operating system?
- Network address translation firewall
- Transport layer firewall
- Network layer firewall
- Host-based firewall
- Application layer firewall
Explanation & Hint: The type of firewall that filters ports and system service calls on a single computer operating system is called a “Host-based firewall.” Host-based firewalls are installed on individual computers or devices and can control traffic and access at the host (computer) level, including filtering specific ports, managing system service calls, and enforcing access policies on that particular device. They provide security measures at the application and transport layers for the host they are installed on.
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A port scan returns an ‘open’ response. What does this mean?
- There was no reply from the host
- A service is listening on the port
- Connections to the port will be denied
Explanation & Hint: When a port scan returns an “open” response, it means that a service is actively listening on the scanned port. In other words, the target host has a service running and waiting for incoming connections on that port. This is different from a closed or denied port, which would mean that the port is not actively accepting connections, or there’s a firewall or security measure in place that prevents access to the port.
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Which of the following firewalls hides or masquerades the private addresses of network hosts?
- Proxy server
- Host-based firewall
- Reverse proxy firewall
- Network address translation firewall
- Network layer firewall
Explanation & Hint: The firewall that hides or masquerades the private addresses of network hosts is the “Network Address Translation (NAT) firewall.” NAT firewalls are commonly used to allow multiple devices on a private network to share a single public IP address. It translates private (local) IP addresses to a single public IP address when outbound traffic leaves the network, and it reverses the translation when inbound traffic returns to the network, ensuring that internal IP addresses are hidden from the public internet.
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Which of the following certifications tests your understanding and knowledge in how to look for weaknesses and vulnerabilities in target systems using the same knowledge and tools as a malicious hacker, but in a lawful and legitimate manner?
- Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Associate
- Microsoft Technology Associate Security Fundamentals
- ISACA CSX Cybersecurity Fundamentals
- EC Council Certified Ethical Hacker
- CompTIA Security+
- ISC2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional
Explanation & Hint: The certification that tests your understanding and knowledge in how to look for weaknesses and vulnerabilities in target systems using the same knowledge and tools as a malicious hacker, but in a lawful and legitimate manner is the “EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker” (CEH) certification. The CEH certification is focused on providing individuals with the skills and knowledge to identify and address security vulnerabilities and weaknesses in a legal and ethical manner.
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Which of the following certifications is aimed at high school and early college students, as well as anyone interested in a career change?
- Microsoft Technology Associate Security Fundamentals
- Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Associate
- EC Council Certified Ethical Hacker
- ISACA CSX Cybersecurity Fundamentals
- CompTIA Security+
- ISC2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional
Explanation & Hint: The certification that is aimed at high school and early college students, as well as anyone interested in a career change, is the “Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) Security Fundamentals” certification. MTA certifications are entry-level certifications from Microsoft and are designed to provide foundational knowledge and skills for individuals who are just starting their IT careers or those looking to make a career change. The MTA Security Fundamentals certification is a good starting point for those interested in the basics of cybersecurity.
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Which of the following certifications meets the U.S. Department of Defense Directive 8570.01-M requirements, which is important for anyone looking to work in IT security for the federal government?
- ISACA CSX Cybersecurity Fundamentals
- EC Council Certified Ethical Hacker
- CompTIA Security+
- Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Associate
- ISC2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional
- Microsoft Technology Associate Security Fundamentals
Explanation & Hint: The certification that meets the U.S. Department of Defense Directive 8570.01-M requirements, which is important for anyone looking to work in IT security for the federal government, is the “CompTIA Security+” certification. CompTIA Security+ is a well-recognized certification for cybersecurity and information security professionals, and it is often required or recommended for positions in the U.S. federal government, as it aligns with the requirements of Directive 8570.01-M.