A WAF (Web Application Firewall) and NIDS (Network Intrusion Detection System) are both examples of Layer 7 security controls. A WAF can block attacks at the application layer (Layer 7) of the OSI model by filtering traffic to and from a web server. NIDS can also detect attacks at Layer 7 by monitoring network traffic for suspicious patterns and behaviors. References: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide, pages 94-95, 116-118

SMS-based authentication is considered to be the least secure among the given options. This is because SMS messages can be intercepted or redirected by attackers through techniques such as SIM swapping, man-in-the-middle attacks, or exploiting weaknesses in the SS7 protocol used by mobile networks. Additionally, SMS messages can be compromised if a user's phone is lost, stolen, or infected with malware. In contrast, TOTP (Time-based One-Time Password), HOTP (HMAC-based One-Time Password), and token keys are more secure as they rely on cryptographic algorithms or physical devices to generate one-time use codes, which are less susceptible to interception or unauthorized access. Reference: 1. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). (2017). Digital Identity Guidelines: Authentication and Lifecycle Management (NIST SP 800-63B). https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs /SpecialPublications/NIST.SP.800-63b.pdf

 DLP stands for data loss prevention, which is a set of tools and processes that aim to prevent unauthorized access, use, or transfer of sensitive data. DLP can help mitigate the risk of data exfiltration by disgruntled employees or external attackers by monitoring and controlling data flows across endpoints, networks, and cloud services. DLP can also detect and block attempts to copy, transfer, or upload sensitive data to a USB drive or other removable media based on predefined policies and rules.

References: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security#examdetails https://www.comptia.org/content/guides/comptia-security-sy0-601-exam-objectives https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/business/security-101/what-is-data-loss-prevention-dlp

Installing a managed PDU is the most appropriate option to mitigate the issue without compromising the number of outlets available. A managed Power Distribution Unit (PDU) helps monitor, manage, and control power consumption at the rack level. By installing a managed PDU, the security team will have greater visibility into power usage in the network rack, and they can identify and eliminate unauthorized devices that consume excessive power from empty outlets.

https://www.comptia.org/training/books/security-sy0-601-study-guide

A data processor is an organization that processes personal data on behalf of a data controller. In this scenario, the company that owns the e-commerce website is the data controller, as it determines the purposes and means of processing personal data (e.g. credit card information). The payment company is a data processor, as it processes personal data on behalf of the e-commerce company (i.e. it processes credit card transactions).

In Firewall 1, HTTP inbound Action should be DENY. As shown below

In Firewall 2, Management Service should be DNS, As shown below.

In Firewall 3, HTTP Inbound Action should be DENY, as shown below

The scenario describes preventive controls, which are designed to stop malicious actors from gaining access to the organization's servers. This includes using multiple access points, such as a lobby, an access control vestibule, and multiple doors leading to the server floor, as well as caging the organization's hardware. According to the CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 document, preventive controls are "designed to stop malicious actors from performing a malicious activity or gaining access to an asset." These controls can include technical solutions, such as authentication and access control systems, physical security solutions, such as locks and barriers, and administrative solutions such as policy enforcement.

A wildcard certificate is a type of digital certificate that can be used to secure multiple subdomains under a single domain name. For example, a wildcard certificate for *.example.com can be used to secure www.example.com, mail.example.com, blog.example.com, etc. A wildcard certificate can make administration easier by reducing the number of certificates that need to be i ssued, managed, and renewed. It can also save costs and simplify configuration.

A server farm’s logs are records of events that occur on a group of servers that provide the same service or function. Logs can contain information such as date, time, source, destination, message, error code, and severity level. Logs can help administrators monitor the performance, security, and availability of the servers and troubleshoot any issues.

To determine the sequence of a server farm’s logs, the administrator should consider the following factors:

• Time stamps: Time stamps are indicators of when an event occurred on a server. Time stamps can help administrators sort and correlate events across different servers based on chronological order. However, time stamps alone may not be sufficient to determine the sequence of events if the servers have different time zones or clock settings.
• Time offset: Time offset is the difference between the local time of a server and a reference time, such as Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) or Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Time offset can help administrators adjust and synchronize the time stamps of different servers to a common reference time and eliminate any discrepancies caused by time zones or clock settings.

References: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security#examdetails https://www.comptia.org/content/guides/comptia-security-sy0-601-exam-objectives https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/server-manager/view-event-logs

the difference between drop and reject in firewall is that the drop target sends nothing to the source, while the reject target sends a reject response to the source. This can affect how the source handles the connection attempt and how fast the port scanning is. In this context, a human might say that the best action to block a TCP connection using the corporate firewall is A. Drop, because it does not send back an RST packet and it may slow down the port scanning and protect against DoS attacks.

A data collector is a person or entity that collects personal data from individuals for a specific purpose. A data collector may or may not be the same as the data controller or the data processor, depending on who determines the purpose and means of processing the data and who actually processes the data.

Graphical user interface, application Description automatically generated

LDAPS (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol Secure) is the most secure protocol to use for connecting to an Active Directory server, as it encrypts the communication between the client and the server using SSL/TLS. This prevents eavesdropping, tampering, or spoofing of the authentication and authorization data. References: 1 CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam Objectives, page 13, Domain 3.0: Implementation, Objective 3.2: Implement secure protocols 2 CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam Objectives, page 15, Domain 3.0: Implementation, Objective 3.5: Implement secure authentication mechanisms 3 https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/w indows-server-2008-R2-and-2008/cc731033(v=ws.10)

Access control vestibules are physical security controls that consist of two sets of doors or gates that create a small enclosed space between them. Only one door or gate can be opened at a time, and only one person can enter or exit the vestibule at a time. Access control vestibules can prevent multiple people from using a unique card swipe and being admitted to a secure entrance, as they require each person to authenticate individually and prevent tailgating or piggybacking.

According to Professor Messer’s video1, VDI stands for Virtual Desktop Infrastructure and it is a deployment model where employees use their personal computers to access a virtual machine that runs the company’s operating system and applications.

In the scenario described, the company is implementing a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) deployment model [1]. This allows employees to access the cloud computing environment using their personal computers, while the company manages the operating system. The VDI model is suitable for remote work scenarios because it provides secure and centralized desktop management, while allowing employees to access desktops from any device.

A SOC 2 report is a document that provides an independent assessment of a service organization’s controls related to the Trust Services Criteria of Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, or Privacy. A SOC 2 report can help a security practitioner evaluate the current security posture of a vendor that provides cloud services1.

A digital forensics chain-of-custody form is a document that records the chronological and logical sequence of custody, control, transfer, analysis, and disposition of digital evidence. A digital forensics chain-of-custody form should include the following information:

• The provenance of the artifacts: The provenance of the artifacts refers to the origin and history of the digital evidence, such as where, when, how, and by whom it was collected, handled, analyzed, or otherwise controlled.
• The date and time: The date and time refer to the specific moments when the digital evidence was collected, handled, analyzed, transferred, or disposed of by each person involved in the chain of custody.

Other information that may be included in a digital forensics chain-of-custody form are:

• The identification of the artifacts: The identification of the artifacts refers to the unique identifiers or labels assigned to the digital evidence, such as serial numbers, barcodes, hashes, or descriptions.
• The signatures of the custodians: The signatures of the custodians refer to the names and signatures of each person who had custody or control of the digital evidence at any point in the chain of custody.
• The location of the artifacts: The location of the artifacts refers to the physical or logical places where the digital evidence was stored or processed, such as a lab, a server, a cloud service, or a device.

References: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security#examdetails https://www.comptia.org/content/guides/comptia-security-sy0-601-exam-objectives https://resources.infosecinstitute.com/topic/chain-of-custody-in-digital-forensics/

 A jump server is a device that acts as an intermediary between users and other devices on a network. A jump server can provide a secure and controlled access point to the legacy devices without exposing them directly to the network. A jump server can also enforce authentication, authorization, logging, and auditing policies.

Memory contents including files and malware are lost when the power is turned off. This is because memory is a volatile storage device that requires constant power to retain data. If a system has been compromised and is being used to exfiltrate data to a competitor, the CSIRT may want to preserve the memory contents for forensic analysis and evidence collection. Therefore, the CSIRT may tell the engineer to immediately disconnect the network cable and not do anything else to prevent further data loss or tampering.

References: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security#examdetails https://www.comptia.org/content/guides/comptia-security-sy0-601-exam-objectives https://resources.infosecinstitute.com/topic/memory-acquisition-and-analysis/

Password history is a policy that prevents users from reusing their previous passwords. This can reduce the risk of password cracking or compromise. Geolocation is a policy that restricts users from logging in from certain locations based on their IP address. This can prevent unauthorized access from high-risk countries or regions. References: https://www.comptia.org/content/guides/what-is-identity-and-access-management

MAC filtering is a method of allowing or denying access to a network based on the MAC address of the device attempting to connect. By creating a list of approved MAC addresses, the organization can prevent unauthorized devices from connecting to the network.

Network Access Control (NAC) is a security solution that allows organizations to restrict access to their networks based on the device's identity, configuration, and security posture. This can be used to ensure that only legitimate devices are allowed to connect to the network, and any unauthorized devices are blocked.

Invest in secure coding training and application security guidelines is the most effective approach for the manager to use to address the issue of common vulnerabilities in the applications developed by the team. Secure coding training can help the developers learn how to write code that follows security best practices and avoids common mistakes or flaws that can introduce vulnerabilities. Application security guidelines can provide a set of standards and rules for developing secure applications that meet the company’s security requirements and policies. By investing in secure coding training and application security guidelines, the manager can improve the security awareness and skills of the development team and reduce the number of vulnerabilities in their applications. References: 1 CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam Objectives, page 9, Domain 2.0: Architecture and Design, Objective 2.3: Summarize secure application development, deployment, and automation concepts 2 CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam Objectives, page 10, Domain 2.0: Architecture and Design, Objective 2.4: Explain the importance of embedded and specialized systems security 3 https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-secure-coding

Disabling remote logins to the NAS likely involved turning off SSH instead of modifying the configuration file. This would prevent users from using SCP to transfer files to the NAS, even though the data is still viewable from the users' PCs. Source: TechTarget

Tokenization replaces sensitive data with non-sensitive data, such as a unique identifier. This means that the data is still present in the system, but the sensitive information itself is replaced with the token. Tokenization is more secure than masking, which only obscures the data but does not eliminate it. DLP is not suitable for this task, as it is designed to prevent the loss or leakage of data from the system. SSL/TLS can be used to secure the transmission of data, but it cannot prevent the data itself from being exposed or reused. For more information, please refer to CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 Exam Objectives, Section 3.3: Explain the security purpose of authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) services, and Section 4.7: Explain the purpose and characteristics of various types of encryption.

the cat command displays the contents of a file, the head command displays the first lines of a file, and the tail command displays the last lines of a file. To display a specific number of lines from a file, you can use a minus sign followed by a number as an option for head or tail. For example, head -10 will display the first 10 lines of a file.

To obtain the next 500 lines starting from line 4,600, you need to use both head and tail commands.

https://www.professormesser.com/security-plus/s y0-601/sy0-601-video/file-manipulation-tools/

SDN stands for software-defined networking, which is an approach to networking that uses software-based controllers or application programming interfaces (APIs) to communicate with underlying hardware infrastructure and direct traffic on a network. SDN decouples the network control plane from the data plane, enabling centralized management and programmability of network resources. SDN can help an engineer use scripting to deploy a network in a cloud environment by allowing them to define and automate network policies, configurations, and services through software commands.

References: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security#examdetails https://www.comptia.org/content/guides/comptia-security-sy0-601-exam-objectives https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/software-defined-networking/overview.html

AUP stands for acceptable use policy, which is a document that defines the rules and guidelines for using an organization’s network, systems, devices, and resources. An AUP typically covers topics such as authorized and unauthorized activities, security requirements, data protection, user responsibilities, and consequences for violations. An AUP can help prevent non-work-related software installation on company-issued devices by clearly stating what types of software are allowed or prohibited, and what actions will be taken if users do not comply with the policy.

References: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security#examdetails https://www.comptia.org/content/guides/comptia-security-sy0-601-exam-objectives https://www.techopedia.com/definition/2471/acceptable-use-policy-aup

IPSec (Internet Protocol Security) is a technology that provides secure communication over the internet by encrypting traffic and authenticating it at both the sender and receiver. It can be used to create secure tunnels between two or more devices, allowing users to access resources securely and privately.

SSL VPN (Secure Sockets Layer Virtual Private Network) is a type of VPN that uses an SSL/TLS connection to encrypt traffic between two or more devices. It is a secure and reliable solution for providing remote access, as all traffic is encrypted and authenticated. Additionally, SSL VPNs can also be used to restrict access to certain websites and services, making them a secure and robust solution for remote access.

A standard naming convention policy would provide guidelines on how to label new network devices as part of the initial configuration. A standard naming convention policy is a document that defines the rules and formats for naming network devices, such as routers, switches, firewalls, servers, or printers. A standard naming convention policy can help an organization achieve consistency, clarity, and efficiency in network management and administration.

References: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security#examdetails https://www.comptia.org/content/guides/comptia-security-sy0-601-exam-objectives https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/solutions/Enterprise/Network_Virtualization/PathIsolationDesignGuide/PathIsolationDesignGuide.pdf

Containers are a method of virtualization that allow you to run multiple isolated applications on a single server. Containers are lightweight, portable, and scalable, which means they can save resources, improve performance, and simplify deployment. Containers also enable centralized monitoring and management of the applications running on them, using tools such as Docker or Kubernetes. Containers are different from edge computing, which is a distributed computing paradigm that brings computation and data storage closer to the location where it is needed. Microservices are a software architecture style that breaks down complex applications into smaller, independent services that communicate with each other. Thin clients are devices that rely on a server to perform most of the processing tasks and only provide a user interface.

Containers are a type of virtualization technology that allow applications to run in a secure, isolated environment on a single host. They can be quickly scaled up or down as needed, making them an ideal solution for unpredictable loads. Additionally, containers are designed to be lightweight and portable, so they can easily be moved from one host to another. Reference: CompTIA Security+ Sy0-601 official Text book, page 863.

Vishing is a form of phishing that uses voice calls or voice messages to trick victims into revealing personal information, such as credit card numbers, bank details, or passwords. Vishing often uses spoofed phone numbers, voice-altering software, or social engineering techniques to impersonate legitimate organizations or authorities. In this scenario, the caller pretended to be someone who could change the flight plan of an aircraft, which could have caused a serious incident.

A snapshot backup is a type of backup that captures the state of a system at a point in time. It is highly time- and storage-efficient because it only records the changes made to the system since the last backup. It also has no impact on production systems because it does not require them to be offline or paused during the backup process. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-a-snapshot-backup

Shredding may be the most secure and cost-effective way to destroy electronic data in any media that contain hard drives or solid-state drives and have reached their end-of-life1. Shredding reduces electronic devices to pieces no larger than 2 millimeters2. Therefore, shredding is the most secure but least expensive data destruction method for data that is stored on hard drives.

Explanation: ARP poisoning (also known as ARP spoofing) is a type of attack where an attacker sends falsified ARP messages over a local area network to link the attacker's MAC address with the IP address of another host on the network. References: CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam Objectives - 2.5 Given a scenario, analyze potential indicators to determine the type of attack. Study Guide: Chapter 6, page 271.

PKI certificates are digital certificates that use public key infrastructure (PKI) to verify the identity and authenticity of a sender and a receiver of data1. PKI certificates can be used to secure web applications with HTTPS, which is a protocol that encrypts and protects the data transmitted over the internet1.

One of the properties of PKI certificates is the domain name, which is the name of the website or web application that the certificate is issued for2. The domain name can be either a specific name, such as app1.comptia.org, or a wildcard name, such as *.comptia.org2. A wildcard name means that the certificate can be used with multiple subdomains of a domain, such as payment.comptia.org or contact.comptia.org2.

Another property of PKI certificates is the validity period, which is the time span during which the certificate is valid and can be used3. The validity period is determined by the certificate authority (CA) that issues the certificate, and it usually ranges from one to three years3. The validity period can be checked by looking at the valid from and valid to dates on the certificate3.

Based on these properties, the certificate that will meet the requirements of rotating annually and only containing wildcards at the secondary subdomain level is A. HTTPS://*.comptia.org, Valid from April 10 00:00:00 2021 - April 8 12:00:00 2022. This certificate has a wildcard character (*) at the secondary subdomain level, which means it can be used with any subdomain of comptia.org2. It also has a validity period of one year, which means it needs to be rotated annually3.

S/MIME (Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) is a protocol that enables secure email messages to be sent and received. It provides email encryption, as well as digital signatures, which can be used to verify the authenticity of the sender. S/MIME can be used with a variety of email protocols, including POP and IMAP.

References:

• https://www.comptia.org/content/guides/what-is-smime
• CompTIA Security+ Study Guide, Sixth Edition (SY0-601), page 139

Detailed Explanation: Password spraying is an attack where an attacker tries a small number of commonly used passwords against a large number of usernames. The goal of password spraying is to avoid detection by avoiding too many failed login attempts for any one user account. The fact that different usernames are being attacked from the same IP address is a strong indication that a password spraying attack is underway.

Choose Your Own Device (CYOD) is a deployment model that allows employees to select from a predefined list of devices. It provides employees with flexibility in device preference while allowing the company to maintain control and security over company data and infrastructure. CYOD deployment model provides a compromise between the strict control provided by Corporate-Owned, Personally Enabled (COPE) deployment model and the flexibility provided by Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) deployment model. References: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide, Chapter 6: Securing Application, Data, and Host Security, 6.5 Implement Mobile Device Management, pp. 334-335

Enforcing the use of a controlled trusted source of container images is the best solution to prevent incidents like the introduction of a zero-day vulnerability through container images from occurring again. References: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide by Emmett Dulaney, Chapter 11: Cloud Security, Container Security

The solution that the CISO should choose is Next-generation Secure Web Gateway (SWG), which provides URL filtering and categorization to prevent users from accessing malicious sites, even when they are away from the office. NGFWs are typically cloud-based and offer multiple security layers, including malware detection, intrusion prevention, and data loss prevention. References:

• https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-a-next-generation-secure-web-gateway-ng-swg
• CompTIA Security+ Study Guide Exam SY0-601, Chapter 4

Defense in depth is a resiliency technique that involves implementing multiple layers of security controls to protect against different types of threats. In this scenario, the NIPS likely provided protection at a different layer than the boundary firewall, demonstrating the effectiveness of defense in depth. References: CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam Objectives (SY0-601)

The responsibilities of ensuring backups are properly maintained and implementing technical controls to protect data are the responsibilities of the data custodian role. References: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide by Emmett Dulaney, Chapter 7: Securing Hosts and Data, Data Custodian

One of the risks of using legacy software is the lack of vendor support. This means that the vendor may no longer provide security patches, software updates, or technical support for the software. This leaves the software vulnerable to new security threats and vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers.

laaS (Infrastructure as a Service) allows the creation of virtual networks, automation, and scripting to reduce the area utilized in a datacenter. References: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide, Exam SY0-601, Chapter 4

"Privilege escalation is the act of exploiting a bug, design flaw, or configuration oversight in an operating system or software application to gain elevated access to resources that are normally protected from an application or user." In this scenario, the red team was able to install malicious software, which would require elevated privileges to access and install. Therefore, the type of attack that occurred is privilege escalation. References: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide, pages 111-112

To observe the continued network-based transaction between a callback domain and the malware running on an enterprise PC while reducing the risk of lateral spread and the risk that the adversary would notice any changes, the best technique to use is to emulate the malware in a heavily monitored DMZ segment. This is a secure environment that is isolated from the rest of the network and can be heavily monitored to detect any suspicious activity. By emulating the malware in this environment, the activity can be observed without the risk of lateral spread or detection by the adversary. References: https://www.sans.org/blog/incident-response-fundamentals-why-is-the-dmz-so-important/

The output of the “netstat -ano” command shows that there are two connections to the same IP address and port number. This indicates that there are two active sessions between the client and server.

The issue of users having to provide their credentials twice to log in is known as a double login prompt issue. This issue can occur due to various reasons such as incorrect configuration of authentication settings, incorrect configuration of web server settings, or issues with the client’s browser.

Based on the output of the “netstat -ano” command, it is difficult to determine the exact cause of the issue. However, it is possible that an attacker is intercepting traffic between the client and server and stealing user credentials. This type of attack is known as C. ARP poisoning.

ARP poisoning is a type of attack where an attacker sends fake ARP messages to associate their MAC address with the IP address of another device on the network. This allows them to intercept traffic between the two devices and steal sensitive information such as user credentials.

WAP stands for wireless access point, which is a device that allows wireless devices to connect to a wired network using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. WAP placement refers to where and how WAPs are installed in a building or area.

WAP placement should be closely coordinated between the technology, cybersecurity, and physical security departments because it affects several aspects of network performance and security, such as:

• Coverage: WAP placement determines how well wireless devices can access the network throughout the building or area. WAPs should be placed in locations that provide optimal signal strength and avoid interference from other sources.
• Capacity: WAP placement determines how many wireless devices can connect to the network simultaneously without affecting network speed or quality. WAPs should be placed in locations that balance network load and avoid congestion or bottlenecks.
• Security: WAP placement determines how vulnerable wireless devices are to eavesdropping or hacking attacks from outside or inside sources. WAPs should be placed in locations that minimize exposure to unauthorized access and maximize encryption and authentication methods.

Configuring the guest wireless network on a separate VLAN from the company's internal wireless network will prevent visitors from accessing company resources. References: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide: Exam SY0-601, Chapter 4

The issue is DNS spoofing, where the DNS resolution has been compromised and is pointing to a malicious IP address. References: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide: Exam SY0-601, Chapter 7

an IDS (Intrusion Detection System) and a WAF (Web Application Firewall) are both used to monitor and protect web applications from common attacks such as cross-site scripting and SQL injection12. However, these attacks can also be hidden in encrypted HTTPS traffic, which uses the TLS (Transport Layer Security) protocol to provide cryptography and authentication between two communicating applications34. Therefore, in order for an IDS and a WAF to be effective on HTTPS traffic, they need to be able to decrypt and inspect the data that flows in the TLS tunnel. This is achieved by using a feature called TLS inspection345, which creates two dedicated TLS connections: one with the web server and another with the client. The firewall then uses a customer-provided CA (Certificate Authority) certificate to generate an on-the-fly certificate that replaces the web server certificate and shares it with the client. This way, the firewall can see the content of the HTTPS traffic and apply the IDS and WAF rules accordingly34.

Differential backup is a type of backup that backs up all data that has changed since the last full backup. This backup method offers faster recovery than a full backup, as it only needs to restore the full backup and the differential backup, reducing the amount of data that needs to be restored. It also uses less storage than a full backup as it only stores the changes made from the last full backup. 

The environment that utilizes dummy data and is most likely to be installed locally on a system that allows it to be assessed directly and modified easily with each build is the development environment. The development environment is used for developing and testing software and applications. It is typically installed on a local system, rather than on a remote server, to allow for easy access and modification. Dummy data can be used in the development environment to simulate real-world scenarios and test the software's functionality. References: https://www.techopedia.com/definition/27561/development-environment

DNS poisoning, also known as DNS spoofing or DNS cache poisoning, is a form of computer security hacking in which corrupt Domain Name System (DNS) data is introduced into the DNS resolver’s cache, causing the name server to return an incorrect result record, such as an IP address. This results in traffic being diverted to the attacker’s computer (or any other malicious destination).

DNS poisoning can be performed by various methods, such as:

• Intercepting and forging DNS responses from legitimate servers
• Compromising DNS servers and altering their records
• Exploiting vulnerabilities in DNS protocols or implementations
• Sending malicious emails or links that trigger DNS queries with poisoned responses

According to CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 Exam Objectives 1.4 Given a scenario, analyze potential indicators to determine the type of attack:

“DNS poisoning, also known as DNS spoofing or DNS cache poisoning, is a form of computer security hacking in which corrupt Domain Name System (DNS) data is introduced into the DNS resolver’s cache, causing the name server to return an incorrect result record.”

References: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security#examdetails https://www.comptia.org/content/guides/comptia-security-sy0-601-exam-objectives https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/dns/dns-cache-poisoning/

Time-based One-Time Password (TOTP) is a type of authentication method that sends out a unique password to be used within a specific number of seconds. It uses a combination of a shared secret key and the current time to generate a one-time password. TOTP is commonly used for two-factor authentication (2FA) to provide an additional layer of security beyond just a username and password.

Trusted Automated Exchange of Intelligence Information (TAXII) is a standard protocol that enables the sharing of cyber threat intelligence between organizations. It allows organizations to automate the exchange of information in a secure and timely manner. References: CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam Objectives - 3.6 Given a scenario, implement secure network architecture concepts. Study Guide: Chapter 4, page 167.

MDM software is a type of remote asset-management software that runs from a central server. It is used by businesses to optimize the functionality and security of their mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets. It can monitor and regulate both corporate-owned and personally owned devices to the organization’s policies.

FDE stands for full disk encryption, which is a method of encrypting all data on a device’s storage. FDE can protect data from unauthorized access in case the device is lost or stolen.

If a company decides to allow its employees to use their personally owned devices for work tasks, it should configure MDM software to enforce FDE on those devices. This way, the company can protect its data from being exposed if the device falls into the wrong hands.

However, employees may be concerned about the loss of personal data if the company also enables the remote-wiping option in the MDM software. Remote wiping is a feature that allows the company to erase all data on a device remotely in case of theft or loss. Remote wiping can also affect personal data on the device, which may not be acceptable to employees.

Therefore, a possible compromise is to configure MDM for FDE without enabling the lock screen. This means that the device will be encrypted, but it will not require a password or PIN to unlock it. This way, employees can access their personal data easily, while the company can still protect its data with encryption.

The other options are not correct because:

• A. Enable the remote-wiping option in the MDM software in case the phone is stolen. This option may address the company’s concern about data loss, but it may not address the employees’ concern about personal data loss. Remote wiping can erase both work and personal data on the device, which may not be desirable for employees.
• B. Configure the MDM software to enforce the use of PINs to access the phone. This option may enhance the security of the device, but it may not address the company’s concern about data loss. PINs can be guessed or bypassed by attackers, and they do not protect data if the device is physically accessed.
• D. Perform a factory reset on the phone before installing the company’s applications. This option may address the company’s concern about data loss, but it may not address the employees’ concern about personal data loss. A factory reset will erase all data on the device, including personal data, which may not be acceptable to employees.

According to CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 Exam Objectives 2.4 Given a scenario, implement secure systems design:

“MDM software is a type of remote asset-management software that runs from a central server1. It is used by businesses to optimize the functionality and security of their mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets2.”

“FDE stands for full disk encryption, which is a method of encrypting all data on a device’s storage3.”

References: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security#examdetails https://www.comptia.org/content/guides/comptia-security-sy0-601-exam-objectives https://www.makeuseof.com/what-is-mobile-device-management-mdm-software/

A - a mantrap can trap those personnal with bad intension(preventive), and kind of same as detecting, since you will know if someone is trapped there(detective), and it can deter those personnal from approaching as well(deterrent) B - security guards can sure do the same thing as above, preventing malicious personnal from entering(preventive+deterrent), and notice those personnal as well(detective)

Using static code analysis would be the best approach to scan the source code looking for unsecure practices and weaknesses before the application is deployed in a runtime environment. This method involves analyzing the source code without actually running the software, which can identify security vulnerabilities that may not be detected by other testing methods. References: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide, Exam SY0-601, 4th Edition, Chapter 6: Risk Management, pp. 292-295

Data loss prevention (DLP) is a technology used to actively monitor for specific file types being transmitted on the network. DLP solutions can prevent the unauthorized transfer of sensitive information, such as credit card numbers and social security numbers, by monitoring data in motion.

References: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide, Exam SY0-601, 4th Edition, Chapter 2: Technologies and Tools, pp. 99-102.

The attack described in the question is known as a DNS hijacking attack. In this type of attack, an attacker modifies the DNS records of a domain name to redirect traffic to their own server. This allows them to intercept traffic and steal sensitive information such as user credentials.

To prevent this type of attack from occurring in the future, the company should implement C. DNSSEC.

DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) is a security protocol that adds digital signatures to DNS records. This ensures that DNS records are not modified during transit and prevents DNS hijacking attacks.

The “From” line in the email header can be easily spoofed or manipulated by an attacker to make it look like the email is coming from the CIO’s email address. However, this does not mean that the email address is actually valid or that the email is actually sent by the CIO. A better way to check the email address is to hover over it and see if it matches the CIO’s email address exactly. This can help to spot any discrepancies or typos that might indicate a phishing attempt. For example, if the CIO’s email address is cio@company.com, but when you hover over it, it shows cio@compnay.com, then you know that the email is not authentic and likely a phishing attempt.

A development environment is the environment that is used to develop and test software. It is typically installed locally on a system that allows code to be assessed directly and modified easily with each build. In this environment, dummy data is often utilized to test the software's functionality.

A Web Application Firewall (WAF) is a security solution that protects web applications from various types of attacks such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and others. It is typically deployed in front of web servers to inspect incoming traffic and filter out malicious requests.

To protect the company’s website from malicious web requests over SSL, a decryption certificate is needed to decrypt the SSL traffic before it reaches the WAF. This allows the WAF to inspect the traffic and filter out malicious requests.

The technique of gaining access to a dual-homed multifunction device and then gaining shell access on another networked asset is an example of pivoting. References: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide by Emmett Dulaney, Chapter 8: Application, Data, and Host Security, Enumeration and Penetration Testing

In a forensic investigation, volatile data should be collected first, based on the order of volatility. RAM and Cache are examples of volatile data. References: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide 601, Chapter 11

The best option that will help to protect the PC from malicious files on the storage device would be A. Change the default settings on the PC. Changing the default settings on the PC can include disabling the autorun or autoplay feature, which can prevent malicious files from executing automatically when the storage device is plugged in. Changing the default settings can also include enabling antivirus software, updating the operating system and applications, and configuring user account control and permissions.

Based on these definitions, the best security solution to mitigate the risk of future data disclosures from a laptop would be FDE123. FDE would prevent unauthorized access to the data stored on the laptop even if it is stolen or lost. FDE can also use TPM to store the encryption key and ensure that only trusted software can decrypt the data3. HIDS and VPN are not directly related to data encryption, but they can provide additional security benefits by detecting intrusions and protecting network traffic respectively.

Detailed Explanation: Recovery Point Objective (RPO) is the maximum duration of time that an organization can tolerate data loss in the event of an outage. It identifies the point in time when data recovery must begin, and any data loss beyond that point is considered unacceptable.

Using legacy software to support a critical service poses a risk due to lack of vendor support. Legacy software is often outdated and unsupported, which means that security patches and upgrades are no longer available. This can leave the system vulnerable to exploitation by attackers who may exploit known vulnerabilities in the software to gain unauthorized access to the system.

An agentless monitor is the best method to monitor network operations because it does not require any software or agents to be installed on the devices being monitored, making it less intrusive and less likely to disrupt network operations. This method can monitor various aspects of network operations, such as traffic, performance, and security.

CompTIA Security+ Study Guide, Sixth Edition (SY0-601), Chapter 4: Attacks, Threats, and Vulnerabilities, Monitoring and Detection Techniques, pg. 167-170.

Detailed Explanation: The attack being attempted is directory traversal, which is a web application attack that allows an attacker to access files and directories outside of the web root directory. A WAF can help mitigate this attack by detecting and blocking attempts to access files outside of the web root directory.

References: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide: Exam SY0-601, Chapter 4: Securing Application Development and Deployment, p. 191

Non-repudiation is the ability to ensure that a party cannot deny a previous action or event. Cryptographic concepts that can be used to implement non-repudiation include hashing and digital signatures, which use a private key to sign a message and ensure that the signature is unique to the signer. References: CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam Objectives (SY0-601)

Continuous Integration is the concept that best represents developers writing code and merging it into shared repositories several times a day, where it is tested automatically. Continuous Integration is a software development practice that involves integrating code changes from multiple developers into a shared repository frequently and running automated tests to ensure quality and functionality. Continuous Integration can help to detect and fix errors early, improve collaboration, reduce rework, and accelerate delivery. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-devops https://www.certblaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/CompTIA-Security-SY0-601-Exam-Objectives-1.0.pdf

Jailbreaking is the vulnerability that the organization is addressing by adding a clause to its AUP that states employees are not allowed to modify the operating system on mobile devices. Jailbreaking is the process of removing the restrictions or limitations imposed by the manufacturer or carrier on a mobile device, such as an iPhone or iPad. Jailbreaking can allow users to install unauthorized applications, customize settings, or access system files. However, jailbreaking can also expose the device to security risks, such as malware, data loss, or warranty voidance. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-jailbreaking https://www.cert blaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/CompTIA-Security-SY0-601-Exam-Objectives-1.0.pdf

Monitoring outbound traffic is a technique that can detect the behavior of malware that allows the unauthorized movement of data from a system. Outbound traffic refers to the data that leaves a system or network and goes to an external destination, such as another network, server, or website. Monitoring outbound traffic can help identify any suspicious or anomalous patterns, such as large volumes of data being sent to unknown or malicious destinations, which could indicate a malware infection or a data exfiltration attempt. Monitoring outbound traffic can also help prevent malware from communicating with command-and-control servers or downloading additional payloads101112 References: CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 Certification Study Guide, Chapter 11: Explaining Digital Forensics Concepts, page 496; Outbound Traffic Monitoring: Why It’s Important for Your Network | SolarWinds MSP; How to Monitor Outbound Traffic on Your Network | NetFort Blog; Why You Should Monitor Outbound Traffic on Your Network | CSO Online

Communication protocols are the rules and standards that govern how devices communicate over a network. They are essential for ensuring security, reliability, and compatibility among different loT devices. Some examples of communication protocols for loT are MQTT, CoAP, HTTP, and Zigbee.

Security awareness training is an administrative control that educates users on the best practices and policies for protecting the organization’s data and systems from various threats, such as malware, phishing, social engineering, etc. Security awareness training can reduce the occurrence of malware execution by increasing the users’ ability to recognize and avoid malicious links, attachments, downloads, or websites.

A company purchased cyber insurance to address items listed on the risk register. This represents a transfer strategy. A transfer strategy involves transferring or sharing some or all of the responsibility or impact of a risk to another party, such as an insurer, a supplier, or a partner. A transfer strategy can help to reduce the financial liability or exposure of the company in case of a security incident or breach. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-cyber-insurance https://www.certblaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/CompTIA-Security-SY0-601-Exam-O bjectives-1.0.pdf

SSO stands for Single Sign-On, which is a technology that allows users to log in to multiple websites using a single set of credentials, such as a username and password or a digital certificate. SSO eliminates the need for users to create and remember multiple accounts and passwords for different websites, and simplifies the authentication process. SSO also enhances security by reducing the risk of password reuse, phishing, and identity theft.

An internet company that has created a new collaboration application can implement SSO to allow users to log in to the application with the credentials of other popular websites, such as Google, Facebook, or Twitter. This way, users do not have to create a new account for the application, and can use their existing accounts from other websites that they trust and use frequently. This can increase the user base and the convenience of the application.

Some examples of SSO technologies are OpenID, OAuth, and SAML. These technologies provide different ways of establishing trust and exchanging information between the websites that act as identity providers (IDPs) and the websites that act as relying parties (RPs). The IDPs are the websites that authenticate the users and provide their credentials or attributes to the RPs. The RPs are the websites that accept the users’ credentials or attributes from the IDPs and grant them access to their services.

nmap is a network scanning tool that can perform various tasks such as port scanning, service detection, version detection, OS detection, vulnerability scanning, etc… nmap comptia.org -p 80 -sv is a command that scans port 80 (the default port for HTTP) on comptia.org domain name and tries to identify the service name and version running on that port. This can help identify potential vulnerabilities in the web server software by comparing the version with known exploits or patches.

Cross-site scripting is a type of web application attack that involves injecting malicious code or scripts into a trusted website or application. The malicious code or script can execute in the browser of the victim who visits the website or application, and can perform actions such as stealing cookies, redirecting to malicious sites, displaying fake content, or compromising the system. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-cross-site-scripting https://www.certblaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/CompTIA-Security-SY0-601-Exam-Objectives-1.0.pd f

A security control objective cannot be met through a technical change, so the company implements a policy to train users on a more secure method of operation best describes a risk reduction technique. Risk reduction is a strategy that aims to lower the likelihood or impact of a risk by implementing controls or mitigations. For example, if a technical control is not feasible or cost-effective, a company can reduce the risk by educating users on how to avoid or handle the threat, such as using strong passwords, avoiding phishing emails, or reporting incidents.

A risk control self-assessment (RCSA) is a process that allows an organization to identify, evaluate, and mitigate the risks associated with its activities, processes, systems, and products. A RCSA involves asking relevant questions to assess the effectiveness of existing controls and identify any gaps or weaknesses that need improvement. A RCSA also helps to align the risk appetite and tolerance of the organization with its strategic objectives and performance.

The application development teams have been asked to answer questions related to their applications’ security posture, such as whether they receive patches from an external source, contain open-source code, are accessible by external users, or meet the corporate password standard. These questions are part of a RCSA process that aims to evaluate the potential risks and vulnerabilities associated with each application and determine how well they are managed and mitigated.

A false positive is a result that indicates a problem when there is no actual problem. In this case, the vulnerability scan flagged the domain controller with a critical vulnerability, but the domain controller does not run the application that is vulnerable. Therefore, the scan result is inaccurate and should be documented as a false positive.

A. Ensure the scan engine is configured correctly. This is not the next step, because the scan engine may be configured correctly and still produce false positives due to various factors, such as outdated signatures, network latency, or misconfigured devices.

B. Apply a patch to the domain controller. This is not the next step, because applying a patch to a system that does not have the vulnerability may cause unnecessary problems or conflicts.

C. Research the CVE. This is not the next step, because the systems administrator already researched the vulnerability and discovered that it does not affect the domain controller.

D. Document this as a false positive. This is the correct answer, because documenting false positives helps to improve the accuracy and efficiency of future scans and audits.

Thin clients are devices that rely on a server or a cloud service to perform most of the processing and storage tasks, while only providing a minimal interface for the user. Thin clients are low-cost solutions that can enable users on the shop floor to log in to the VDI (virtual desktop infrastructure) environment directly, without requiring a full-fledged computer or laptop.

Implementing 802.1X would have best prevented this avenue of attack. 802.1X is a standard that provides port-based network access control (PNAC), which means that it authenticates devices before allowing them to access network resources through a physical or wireless port. 802.1X can prevent unauthorized devices from obtaining valid IP addresses or accessing sensitive data by requiring them to provide credentials, such as a username and password, a certificate, or a token. 802.1X can also dynamically assign VLANs or firewall rules based on the device identity or role.

A threat actor who used a sophisticated attack to breach a well-known ride-sharing company and posted on social media that this action was in response to the company’s treatment of its drivers is most likely a hacktivist. A hacktivist is a person who uses hacking skills to promote a social or political cause, such as human rights, environmentalism, or anti-corporatism5.

Hacktivists are hackers who use their skills to promote a political or social cause, such as human rights, environmentalism, anti-censorship, etc. Hacktivists may target organizations or individuals who oppose their views or agendas, and launch cyberattacks such as defacement, denial-of-service, data theft, or sabotage. In this case, the security manager should consider hacktivists as a potential threat actor who may launch cyberattacks in response to the CEO’s controversial opinion article.

Organized crime is a term that describes groups of criminals who operate in a coordinated and systematic manner to pursue illicit activities for profit. Organized crime groups often use sophisticated tools and techniques to evade law enforcement and exploit vulnerabilities in various sectors, such as finance, transportation, or healthcare. Organized crime groups may also collaborate with other criminal groups or actors to share resources, information, or expertise.

Ransomware as a service (RaaS) is an example of a business model used by organized crime groups to conduct ransomware and extortion attacks. RaaS is an arrangement between an operator, who develops and maintains the tools to power extortion operations, and an affiliate, who deploys the ransomware payload. When the affiliate conducts a successful ransomware and extortion attack, both parties profit. The RaaS model lowers the barrier to entry for attackers who may not have the skill or technical wherewithal to develop their own tools but can manage ready-made penetration testing and sysadmin tools to perform attacks12.

Insider threat is a term that describes individuals who have legitimate access to an organization’s systems or data and use it for malicious purposes, such as theft, sabotage, or espionage. Insider threats may be motivated by various factors, such as greed, revenge, ideology, or coercion. Insider threats may also be unintentional, such as when an employee falls victim to phishing or social engineering.

Hacktivist is a term that describes individuals or groups who use hacking or cyberattacks to promote a political or social cause. Hacktivists may target governments, corporations, or other entities that they perceive as oppressive, corrupt, or unethical. Hacktivists may also use cyberattacks to expose information, disrupt services, or deface websites.

Nation-state is a term that describes a sovereign state that has a centralized government and a defined territory. Nation-state actors are individuals or groups who conduct cyberattacks on behalf of or with the support of a nation-state. Nation-state actors may target other states, organizations, or individuals for various reasons, such as espionage, sabotage, influence, or retaliation.

A next-generation firewall (NGFW) is a solution that can defend against malicious actors misusing protocols and being allowed through network defenses. A NGFW is a type of firewall that can perform deep packet inspection, application-level filtering, intrusion prevention, malware detection, and identity-based access control. A NGFW can also use threat intelligence and behavioral analysis to identify and block malicious traffic based on protocols, signatures, or anomalies. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-a-next-generation-firewall https://www.certblaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/CompTIA-Security-SY0-601-Exam-Objectives-1.0.pdf

Residual risk is the risk that remains after applying risk mitigation measures, such as controls, policies, or procedures. It reflects the level of uncertainty and potential impact that cannot be completely eliminated by risk management efforts. Residual risk is calculated by subtracting the risk reduction from the inherent risk, or by multiplying the inherent risk by the risk control effectiveness. Residual risk should be compared to the acceptable level of risk to determine if further action is needed or if the risk can be accepted by the management. References: CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 Certification Study Guide, Chapter 10: Summarizing Risk Management Concepts, page 456; Residual risk - Wikipedia; Residual risk definition and why it’s important - Advisera

A data controller is an employee role that would determine the purpose of data and how to process it. A data controller is a person or entity that decides why and how personal data is collected, used, stored, shared, or deleted. A data controller has the responsibility to comply with data protection laws and regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and to ensure the rights and privacy of data subjects. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-a-data-controller https://www.certblaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/CompTIA-Security-SY0-601-Exam-Objectives-1.0.pdf

A service level agreement (SLA) defines response time, escalation points, and performance metrics. An SLA is a contract between a service provider and a customer that specifies the level and quality of service that will be delivered. An SLA typically includes metrics such as availability, reliability, throughput, latency, security, etc., as well as penalties or remedies for failing to meet them. An SLA also defines how issues will be reported and resolved, how often reviews will be conducted, and how changes will be communicated.

A CASB (Cloud Access Security Broker) and encryption are two solutions that can address the CSO’s concerns about cloud-based services security. A CASB is a software tool or service that acts as an intermediary between users and cloud service providers, enforcing security policies and providing visibility and control over cloud activities. A CASB can help detect and prevent advanced threats and malware by applying data loss prevention, threat protection, anomaly detection, and encryption capabilities to cloud data and traffic456 Encryption is a process of transforming data into an unreadable format using a secret key or algorithm, making it inaccessible to unauthorized parties. Encryption can help protect cloud data from breaches by ensuring that only authorized users with the correct key can decrypt and access the data. Encryption can be applied to data at rest (stored in the cloud) or data in transit (moving between the cloud and users)789 References: CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 Certification Study Guide, Chapter 8: Implementing Secure Protocols, page 360; What is a Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB)? | McAfee; Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASBs) - Gartner IT Glossary; What is Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB)? - Definition from WhatIs.com; What is Encryption? | Malwarebytes; Encryption - Wikipedia; What is Encryption? How Does Encryption Work? | Kaspersky

The user input credentials into a pop-up window that was not part of the trusted website. This suggests that the attacker was able to forge a certificate and present a fake website that looked like the legitimate one. This is a type of attack known as certificate forgery, which exploits the trust relationship between users and websites that use SSL/TLS encryption2.

An employee receiving a gift card request in an email that has an executive’s name in the display field to the email describes a possible business email compromise attack. Business email compromise (BEC) is a type of phishing attack that targets employees who have access to financial or sensitive information, such as accounting, human resources, or executive staff. The attacker impersonates a trusted person, such as a manager, vendor, or client, and requests a fraudulent payment, wire transfer, gift card purchase, or personal information. The attacker may spoof the email address or display name, use a look-alike domain, or compromise a legitimate email account to make the request seem authentic.

WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) is a network security protocol that should be implemented to ensure the strongest encryption for a wireless network. WPA2 is an upgrade from the original WPA protocol, which was designed as a replacement for the older and less secure WEP protocol. WPA2 implements the mandatory elements of IEEE 802.11i standard, including CCMP, an AES-based encryption mode. WPA2 provides stronger security and data protection than WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), WAP (Wireless Application Protocol), or HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure)

A program that allows individuals to security test the company’s internet-facing application and compensates researchers based on the vulnerabilities discovered is best described as a bug bounty program. A bug bounty program is an incentive-based program that rewards ethical hackers for finding and reporting security flaws in software or systems6.

An on-path attack is an attack that took place when an attacker was eavesdropping on a user who was shopping online and was able to spoof the IP address associated with the shopping site. An on-path attack is a type of network attack that involves intercepting or modifying traffic between two parties by placing oneself in the communication path. An on-path attack can also be called a man-in-the-middle attack or a session hijacking attack. An on-path attacker can steal sensitive information, such as credit card details, or redirect the user to a malicious website. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-a-man-in-the-middle-attack https://www.certblaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/CompTIA-Security-SY0-601-Exam-Objectives-1.0.pdf

Documenting the collection and requiring a sign-off when possession changes are essential steps for maintaining chain of custody during an investigation. Chain of custody is the process of documenting and preserving the integrity and authenticity of evidence from the time it is collected until it is presented in court. Documenting the collection involves recording information such as date, time, location, description, serial number, etc., of the evidence. Requiring a sign-off when possession changes involves obtaining signatures from every person who handles or transfers the evidence.

Dynamic resource allocation is a technique that allows cloud providers to adjust the amount and distribution of computing resources according to the changing demand and capacity of the cloud environment1. Dynamic resource allocation can improve the efficiency and utilization of available computing power, as well as reduce the cost and energy consumption of the cloud infrastructure1. Dynamic resource allocation can also enhance the system availability and reliability by avoiding potential denial-of-service situations caused by overloading or under-provisioning of resources1.

Segmentation is a security technique that divides a network into smaller subnetworks or segments based on criteria such as function, role, location, etc. Segmentation can help mitigate the risk of unauthorized access or data leakage by isolating different segments from each other and applying different security policies and controls to each segment. Segmentation can help the security manager to implement a mitigation while maintaining alerting capabilities by separating the smart generator from the internal file server and allowing only necessary communication between them.

The concept of connecting a user account across the systems of multiple enterprises is best known as federation. Federation is a process that allows users to authenticate once and access multiple resources or services across different domains or organizations. For example, a user can use their Google account to sign in to various websites or applications that support federation, without creating separate accounts or passwords for each one. Federation can improve user convenience and security, as well as reduce administrative overhead.

Tokenization is a privacy technique that replaces sensitive data elements, such as credit card numbers, with non-sensitive equivalents, called tokens, that have no intrinsic or exploitable value. Tokenization can be used to enable established customers to safely store credit card information without exposing their actual card numbers to potential theft or misuse. The tokens can be used to process payments without revealing the original data456 References: CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 Certification Study Guide, Chapter 8: Implementing Secure Protocols, page 362; What is tokenization? | McKinsey; What is Tokenization? Definition and Examples | OpenText - Micro Focus; Tokenization (data security) - Wikipedia

Data is being exfiltrated when an internal system is sending a large amount of unusual DNS queries to systems on the internet over short periods of time during non-business hours. Data exfiltration is the unauthorized transfer of data from a system or network to an external destination or actor. Data exfiltration can be performed by malicious insiders or external attackers who have compromised the system or network. DNS queries are requests for resolving domain names to IP addresses. DNS queries can be used as a covert channel for data exfiltration by encoding data in the domain names or subdomains and sending them to a malicious DNS server that can decode and collect the data. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-data-exfiltration https: //www.certblaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/CompTIA-Security-SY0-601-Exam-Objectives-1.0.pdf

A supply-chain attack is a type of cyberattack that targets a trusted third-party vendor who offers services or products vital to the supply chain. A supply-chain attack can occur in software or hardware. In this case, the most likely scenario is that the SoC (system on chip) was compromised by a malicious actor before it was delivered to the company, either by tampering with or replacing it with a malicious version. This would allow the attacker to gain access to the company’s systems through the specially configured workstations

A SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) is a system that collects, analyzes, and correlates data from multiple sources, such as AV (antivirus), EDR (endpoint detection and response), DLP (data loss prevention), SWG (secure web gateway), WAF (web application firewall), MDM (mobile device management), HIPS (host intrusion prevention system), and CASB (cloud access security broker). A SIEM can help improve the situation by providing a centralized view of the security posture, alerts, and incidents across the organization.

The security engineer is an example of a data custodian. A data custodian is a person who is responsible for implementing and maintaining the security controls for the data, such as encryption, backup, access control, etc. A data custodian acts on behalf of the data owner, who is the person who has the authority and accountability for the data. A data controller is a person who determines the purposes and means of processing the data, such as a company or an organization. A data processor is a person who processes the data on behalf of the data controller, such as a service provider or a vendor1.

Facial recognition is a type of biometric authentication that uses the unique features of a person’s face to verify their identity. Facial recognition is not something you know or have, but something you are, which is one of the three factors of authentication. Facial recognition can use various methods and technologies, such as 2D or 3D images, infrared sensors, machine learning and more, to capture, analyze and compare facial data. Facial recognition can provide a convenient and secure way to authenticate users on personal mobile devices, as it does not require any additional hardware or input from the user. Facial recognition can also be used in conjunction with other factors, such as passwords or tokens, to provide multi-factor authentication. Verified References:

• Biometrics - SY0-601 CompTIA Security+ : 2.4 - Professor Messer IT Certification Training Courses https://www.professormesser.com/security-plus/sy0-601/sy0-601-video/biometrics/ (See Facial Recognition)
• Security+ (Plus) Certification | CompTIA IT Certifications https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security (See Domain 2: Architecture and Design, Objective 2.4: Given a scenario, implement identity and access management controls.)
• Biometric and Facial Recognition - CompTIA Security+ Certification (SY0-501) https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/comptia-security-certification/9781789953091/video9_6.html (See Biometric and Facial Recognition)

A DNS sinkhole would be most effective to contain a rapidly spreading attack that is affecting a large number of organizations. A DNS sinkhole is a technique that involves redirecting malicious or unwanted domain names to an alternative IP address, such as a black hole, a honeypot, or a warning page. A DNS sinkhole can help to prevent or disrupt the communication between infected systems and command-and-control servers, malware distribution sites, phishing sites, or botnets. A DNS sinkhole can also help to identify and isolate infected systems by monitoring the traffic to the sinkhole IP address. References: https://w ww.comptia.org/blog/what-is-a-dns-sinkhole https://www.certblaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/CompTIA-Security-SY0-601-Exam-Objecti ves-1.0.pdf

A USB data blocker is a device that prevents data transfer between a USB device and a host computer, while still allowing charging. This can prevent data breaches caused by malicious USB chargers or devices that may attempt to access or infect the phone’s data.

Provisioning is the process of creating and setting up IT infrastructure, and includes the steps required to manage user and system access to various resources . Provisioning can be done for servers, cloud environments, users, networks, services, and more .

In this case, the security administrator wants to ensure that all cloud servers will have software preinstalled for facilitating vulnerability scanning and continuous monitoring. This means that the administrator needs to provision the cloud servers with the necessary software and configuration before they are deployed or used by customers or end users. Provisioning can help automate and standardize the process of setting up cloud servers and reduce the risk of human errors or inconsistencies.

Intellectual property is a type of data that is proprietary and unique to an organization. It includes trade secrets and other information that the organization does not want to share with third parties or competitors. Employees in the research and development business unit are most likely to use intellectual property in their day-to-day work activities, as they are involved in creating new products, services, or processes for the organization. Intellectual property data requires a high level of security and protection, as it can provide a competitive advantage or disadvantage if leaked or stolen.

Encrypted data is not a type of data, but a state of data. Encryption is a method of transforming data into an unreadable format using a key, so that only authorized parties can access it. Encryption can be applied to any type of data, such as intellectual property, critical data, or data in transit.

Critical data is a type of data that is essential for the operation and continuity of an organization. It includes information such as customer records, financial transactions, employee details, and so on. Critical data may or may not be intellectual property, depending on the nature and source of the data. Critical data also requires a high level of security and protection, as it can affect the reputation, performance, or legal compliance of the organization.

Data in transit is not a type of data, but a state of data. Data in transit refers to data that is moving from one location to another over a network, such as the internet, a LAN, or a WAN. Data in transit can be vulnerable to interception, modification, or theft by malicious actors. Data in transit can also be any type of data, such as intellectual property, critical data, or PII.

OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project) is a non-profit organization that provides resources and guidance for improving the security of web applications. It publishes a list of the most common web application vulnerabilities, such as injection, broken authentication, cross-site scripting, etc., and provides recommendations and best practices for preventing and mitigating them

A clean desk policy is a set of rules that require employees to clear their desks of any documents, papers, or devices that contain sensitive or confidential information when they leave their workstations. This policy helps to prevent unauthorized access, theft, or disclosure of proprietary information during facility tours or other situations where outsiders may visit the premises.

A. Clean desk policy. This is the correct answer, because a clean desk policy is a simple and effective way to mitigate the risk of exposing proprietary information during facility tours.

The ability of code to target a hypervisor from inside a guest OS is known as VM escape. This is a serious security threat that can compromise the entire virtualized environment and allow an attacker to access other guest OSes or the host OS. VM escape can be achieved by exploiting vulnerabilities in the hypervisor software, the guest OS, or the virtual hardware devices4.

Risk avoidance is the strategy of eliminating or minimizing exposure to risk by not engaging in an activity or process that may result in a negative outcome. Not installing new software to prevent compatibility errors is an example of risk avoidance, as it avoids the possibility of introducing new vulnerabilities or disrupting existing functionality.

An internet proxy is a server that acts as an intermediary between a client and a destination server on the internet. It can restrict web access and monitor the websites that employees visit by filtering the requests and responses based on predefined rules and policies, and logging the traffic and activities for auditing purposes

An evil twin is a type of wireless network attack that involves setting up a rogue access point that mimics a legitimate one. It can trick users into connecting to the rogue access point instead of the real one, and then intercept or modify their traffic, steal their credentials, launch phishing pages, etc. In this packet capture, the analyst can see that there are two access points with the same SSID (CoffeeShop) but different MAC addresses (00:0c:41:82:9c:4f and 00:0c:41:82:9c:4e). This indicates that one of them is an evil twin that is trying to impersonate the other one. 

A zero-day vulnerability is a security flaw that is unknown to the vendor and the public, and therefore has no patch or fix available. A zero-day attack is an exploit that takes advantage of a zero-day vulnerability before the vendor or the security community becomes aware of it. A zero-day attack can cause serious damage to a system or network, as there is no defense against it until a patch is released. References:

• https://resources.infosecinstitute.com/certification/security-domain-1-threats-attacks-and-vulnerabilities/
• https://www.linkedin.com/learning/comptia-security-plus-sy0-601-cert-prep-1-threats-attacks-and-vulnerabilities/zero-days-and-the-advanced-persistent-threat
• https://www.professormesser.com/security-plus/sy0-501/zero-day-attacks-4/

Based on the logs, it seems that the host that originated the infection is 192.168.10.22. This host has a suspicious process named svchost.exe running on port 443, which is unusual for a Windows service. It also has a large number of outbound connections to different IP addresses on port 443, indicating that it is part of a botnet.

The firewall log shows that this host has been communicating with 10.10.9.18, which is another infected host on the engineering network. This host also has a suspicious process named svchost.exe running on port 443, and a large number of outbound connections to different IP addresses on port 443.

The other hosts on the R&D network (192.168.10.37 and 192.168.10.41) are clean, as they do not have any suspicious processes or connections.

Using a SHA-2 signature of a drive image is a way to supply non-repudiation during a forensics investigation, as it can verify the integrity and authenticity of the data captured in the image. SHA-2 is a family of secure hash algorithms that can produce a unique and fixed-length digest of any input data. By hashing the drive image and comparing the signature with the original hash, the investigator can prove that the image has not been altered or tampered with since the time of acquisition. This can also help to identify the source of the data and prevent any denial from the suspect. References:

• https://www.professormesser.com/security-plus/sy0-601/sy0-601-video/managing-evidence/
• https://www.skillsoft.com/course/comptia-security-incident-response-digital-forensics-supporting-investigations-f889a108-9721-4e2c-8e9e-b49b01295e48

Data tokenization is a technique of replacing sensitive data with non-sensitive substitutes called tokens that have no intrinsic value or meaning. It can satisfy both the CPO’s and the development team’s requirements by removing personally identifiable information (PII) from the development environment of a critical application while preserving the functionality and format of the data for testing purposes.

Spraying is a password attack that involves trying a few common passwords against a large number of usernames. Spraying is different from brute-force attacks, which try many possible passwords against one username, or dictionary attacks, which try a list of words from a dictionary file against one username. Spraying is often used when the web application has a lockout policy that prevents multiple failed login attempts for the same username. Spraying can be detected by looking for patterns of failed login attempts from the same source IP address with different usernames and the same or similar passwords.

A business continuity plan is a document or a process that outlines how an organization can continue its critical operations and functions in the event of a disruption or disaster. It can include strategies and procedures for recovering or relocating resources, personnel, data, etc., to ensure minimal downtime and impact. The organization will most likely consult the business continuity plan when setting up offices in a temporary work space after its corporate offices were destroyed due to a natural disaster.

Capacity planning is the process of determining the resources needed to meet the demand for a service or product. It involves estimating the number of staff members required to sustain the business in the case of a disruption, as well as other factors such as equipment, space, and budget12.

Redundancy, geographic dispersion, and tabletop exercise are not directly related to determining the staff members needed for business continuity. Redundancy is the duplication of critical components or functions to increase reliability and availability2. Geographic dispersion is the distribution of resources across different locations to reduce the impact of a localized disaster2. Tabletop exercise is a simulation of a potential scenario that tests the effectiveness of a business continuity plan

Time-based one-time password (TOTP) and hardware token are authentication methods that rely on the possession factor, which means that the user must have a specific device or object in their possession to authenticate. A TOTP is a password that is valid for a short period of time and is generated by an app or a device that the user has. A hardware token is a physical device that displays a code or a password that the user can enter to authenticate. A passphrase (Option A) is a knowledge factor, while facial recognition (Option C), retina scan (Option D), and fingerprints (Option F) are all inherence factors.

https://ptgmedia.pearsoncmg.com/imprint_downloads/pearsonitcertification/bookreg/9780136798675/9780136798675_tea rcard.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCJyPPvM-xg

HSM stands for hardware security module, which is a physical device that is used to store and manage cryptographic keys in a secure and tamper-resistant manner. HSMs can provide high-performance encryption and decryption operations, as well as key generation, backup, and recovery. HSMs can also prevent unauthorized access or extraction of the keys, even by the cloud service provider or the HSM vendor. HSMs can enhance the protection of a critical environment that is used to store and manage encryption keys for a financial institution or any other organization that deals with sensitive data. References:

• https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security
• https://www.professormesser.com/security-plus/sy0-501/hardware-security-3/

Honey pots are decoy systems or resources that are designed to attract and deceive threat actors and to learn more about their motives, techniques, etc. They can be deployed alongside production systems to create an illusion of a vulnerable target and divert attacks away from the real systems. They can also collect valuable information and evidence about the attackers and their activities for further analysis or prosecution. 

TLS (Transport Layer Security) is a cryptographic protocol that provides secure communication over the internet. It can protect the data transmitted between the website and the visitors from eavesdropping, tampering, etc. It is the most secure protocol to implement for a website that sells products online using a credit card.

This command creates an inbound access list that denies any IP traffic from the source IP address of 10.1.4.9/32 to any destination IP address (0.0.0.0/0). It blocks the originating source of malicious traffic from accessing the organization’s network. 

Corrective controls are security measures that are implemented after an incident to repair the damage and restore normal operations. They can include actions such as patching systems, restoring backups, removing malware, etc. An organization that is repairing damage after an incident is implementing corrective controls. 

Isolating the infected attachment is the best course of action for the analyst to take to prevent further spread of the worm. A worm is a type of malware that can self-replicate and infect other devices without human interaction. By isolating the infected attachment, the analyst can prevent the worm from spreading to other devices or networks via email, file-sharing, or other means. Isolating the infected attachment can also help the analyst to analyze the worm and determine its source, behavior, and impact. References:

• https://www.security.org/antivirus/computer-worm/
• https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/resources/worm_mitigation_whitepaper.html

This firewall rule set allows a subnet to only access DHCP, web pages, and SFTP, and specifically blocks FTP by allowing or denying traffic based on the source, destination, and port. The rule set is as follows:

• Allow any source and any destination on port 80 (HTTP)
• Allow any source and any destination on port 443 (HTTPS)
• Allow any source and any destination on port 67 (DHCP server)
• Allow any source and any destination on port 68 (DHCP client)
• Allow any source and any destination on port 22 (SFTP)
• Deny any source and any destination on port 21 (FTP)
• Deny any source and any destination on any other port

Site-to-site VPN is a type of VPN solution that connects two or more networks or sites across the public internet in a secure and encrypted way. Site-to-site VPN can be implemented using VPN appliances, such as firewalls or routers, that can establish and maintain the VPN tunnel between the sites. Site-to-site VPN can support multiple users or devices that need to access resources on the other site without requiring individual VPN clients or software. Site-to-site VPN is the best solution to support the new remote office, as it can provide secure and seamless connectivity between the office network and the main network of the organization. Verified References:

• Virtual Private Networks – SY0-601 CompTIA Security+ : 3.3 https://www.professormesser.com/security-plus/sy0-601/sy0-601-video/virtual-private-networks-sy0-601-comptia-security-3-3/ (See Site-to-Site VPN)
• VPN Technologies – CompTIA Security+ SY0-501 – 3.2 https://www.professormesser.com/security-plus/sy0-501/vpn-technologies/ (See Site-to-Site VPN)
• Security+ (Plus) Certification | CompTIA IT Certifications https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security (See Domain 3: Architecture and Design, Objective 3.3: Given a scenario, implement secure network architecture concepts.)

Jailbreaking is a process of bypassing or removing the manufacturer-imposed restrictions on a mobile device’s operating system, allowing users to install unauthorized applications, modify settings, etc. It is a primary security concern for setting up a BYOD program because it can expose the device and its data to malware, vulnerabilities, unauthorized access, etc

A deterrent control is a type of security control that is designed to discourage potential intruders from attempting to access or harm a system or network. A deterrent control relies on the perception or fear of negative consequences rather than the actual enforcement of those consequences. A deterrent control can also be used to influence the behavior of authorized users by reminding them of their obligations and responsibilities. An example of a deterrent control is placing fake cameras around the building, as it can create the illusion of surveillance and deter potential intruders from trying to break in. Other examples of deterrent controls are warning signs, security guards, or audit trails. References:

• https://www.ibm.com/topics/security-controls
• https://www.f5.com/labs/learning-center/what-are-security-controls

A distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack is an attempt to make a computer or network resource unavailable to its intended users. This is accomplished by overwhelming the target with a flood of traffic from multiple sources.

In the scenario described, the security analyst identified a source IP address and blocked it from communicating with the network. However, the attack was still ongoing and coming from a large number of different source IP addresses. This indicates that the attack was a DDoS attack.

Privilege escalation is an attack that allows an attacker to gain unauthorized access to a system or network. DNS poisoning is an attack that modifies the DNS records for a domain name, causing users to be redirected to a malicious website. A buffer overflow is an attack that occurs when a program attempts to store more data in a buffer than it is designed to hold.

Therefore, the most likely type of attack in the scenario described is a DDoS attack.

A buffer overflow is a type of vulnerability that occurs when an attacker sends more data than a buffer can hold, causing the excess data to overwrite adjacent memory locations such as registers. It can allow an attacker to overwrite a register with a malicious address that changes the execution path and executes arbitrary code on the target system

Badges are physical security controls that provide a way to identify and authenticate authorized individuals who need to access a building or a restricted area. Badges can also be used to track the entry and exit times of people and monitor their movements within the premises. Badges can help deter unauthorized access by requiring people to present a valid credential before entering or leaving the office. Badges can also help prevent tailgating, which is when an unauthorized person follows an authorized person through a door or gate. Badges can be integrated with other security systems, such as locks, alarms, cameras, or biometrics, to enhance the level of protection.

Web serverBotnet Enable DDoS protectionUser RAT Implement a host-based IPSDatabase server Worm Change the default application passwordExecutive KeyloggerDisable vulnerable servicesApplication Backdoor Implement 2FA using push notification

A screenshot of a computer program Description automatically generated with low confidence

The router is experiencing a resource exhaustion issue. The output from the command indicates that the CPU is consistently busy, with a 1-second average of 99 percent busy and a 1-minute average of 83 percent busy. This indicates that the router is struggling to keep up with the demands placed on it, potentially due to a high volume of traffic or other factors. As a result, web pages are experiencing long load times. This is an example of resource exhaustion, where the router's resources are being overwhelmed and are unable to meet the demands placed on them. A DDoS attack, memory leak, or buffer overflow would not typically cause the symptoms described in the scenario.

Surveillance systems are constantly scanned by internet bots and have the highest risk of attack in the case of the default configurations because they are often connected to the internet and use weak or default passwords that can be easily guessed or cracked by malicious bots. Internet bots are software applications that run automated tasks over the internet, usually with the intent to imitate human activity or exploit vulnerabilities. Some bots are used for legitimate purposes, such as web crawling or indexing, but others are used for malicious purposes, such as spamming, phishing, denial-of-service attacks, or credential stuffing. Security misconfigurations are one of the most common gaps that criminal hackers look to exploit. Therefore, it is important to secure the configuration of surveillance systems by changing the default passwords, updating the firmware, disabling unnecessary services, and enabling encryption and authentication.

https://www.cctvcameraworld.com/setup-ip-camera-sys tem-on-network/

A corrective control is a type of security control that is designed to mitigate the damage caused by a security incident or to restore the normal operations after an incident. A corrective control can include actions such as restoring from backups, applying patches, isolating infected systems, or implementing new policies and procedures. A corrective control is different from a preventive control, which aims to stop an incident from happening, or a detective control, which aims to identify and record an incident. References:

• https://www.professormesser.com/security-plus/sy0-601/sy0-601-video/security-controls-3/
• https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/comptia-security-all-in-one/9781260464016/ch31.xhtml
• https://www.professormesser.com/security-plus/sy0-501/security-controls-2/

Smishing is a type of social engineering technique that involves sending fraudulent or malicious text messages (SMS) to a user’s mobile phone. It can trick the user into providing personal or financial information, clicking on malicious links, downloading malware, etc., by impersonating a legitimate entity or creating a sense of urgency or curiosity.

Containment is an incident response strategy that aims to isolate and prevent the spread of an attack or compromise within a network or system. It can resolve the issue of unauthorized software detected on a small number of machines in a lab as quickly as possible while causing minimal disruption to the researchers by stopping the software from communicating with external sources using HTTPS and SMS and preventing it from infecting additional machines outside of the lab

Wireless Access Point

Network Mode – G only

Wireless Channel – 11

Wireless SSID Broadcast – disable

Security settings – WPA2 Professional

Homomorphic encryption is a cryptographic technique that allows data to be stored, accessed and manipulated while encrypted. Homomorphic encryption enables computations to be performed on ciphertexts, generating an encrypted result that, when decrypted, matches the result of the operations as if they had been performed on the plaintext. Homomorphic encryption can prevent the cloud service provider from being able to decipher the data due to its sensitivity, as the data remains encrypted at all times. Homomorphic encryption is not concerned about computational overheads and slow speeds, as it trades off performance for security and privacy. References:

• https://www.professormesser.com/security-plus/sy0-601/sy0-601-video/cryptography-concepts-2/
• https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/security_homomorphic_encryption_white_paper.pdf
• https://www.professormesser.com/security-plus/sy0-601/sy0-601-video/symmetric-and-asymmetric-cryptography/

MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) is a method of verifying a user’s identity by requiring two or more factors or attributes that belong to different categories. The categories are something you know (such as a password or a PIN), something you have (such as a token or a smart card), something you are (such as a fingerprint or an iris scan), something you do (such as a gesture or a voice command), and somewhere you are (such as a location or an IP address). In this case, the user enters a password (something you know) and then receives an authentication code (something you have) to log in to a workstation.

CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) is a framework and a metric that provides a standardized and consistent way of assessing and communicating the severity levels of vulnerabilities. It assigns a numerical score and a vector string to each vulnerability based on various factors, such as exploitability, impact, scope, etc. It can help communicate to the leadership team the severity levels of the organization’s vulnerabilities by providing a quantitative and qualitative measure of the risks and the potential impacts. 

Push notifications are a type of technology that allows an application or a service to send messages or alerts to a user’s device without requiring the user to open the application or the service. They can be used for multi-factor authentication (MFA) by sending a prompt or a code to the user’s device that the user has to approve or enter to verify their identity. They can be non-disruptive and user friendly because they do not require the user to remember or type anything, and they can be delivered instantly and securely.

The last incremental backup that was conducted 72 hours ago would be the best option to restore the services to a secure state, as it would contain the most recent data before the ransomware infection. Incremental backups only store the changes made since the last backup, so they are faster and use less storage space than full backups. Restoring from an incremental backup would also minimize the data loss and downtime caused by the ransomware attack. References:

• https://www.comptia.org/blog/mature-cybersecurity-response-to-ransomware
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HszU4nEAlFc

 VPN (Virtual Private Network) traffic is encrypted to protect its confidentiality and integrity over the internet. However, this also means that it cannot be inspected by security devices or tools when entering or leaving the network, unless it is decrypted first. This can create a blind spot or a vulnerability for the network security posture, as malicious traffic or data could bypass detection or prevention mechanisms by using VPN encryption

MDM stands for mobile device management, which is a solution that allows organizations to manage and secure mobile devices used by employees. MDM can help prevent data loss and leakage by enforcing policies and restrictions on the devices, such as encryption, password, app installation, remote wipe, and so on. MDM can also monitor and audit the device activity and compliance status. MDM can be the best mitigation strategy to prevent data leakage from an employee’s COPE tablet via cloud storage, as it can block or limit the access to cloud services, or apply data protection measures such as containerization or encryption. References:

• https://www.blackberry.com/us/en/solutions/corporate-owned-personally-enabled
• https://www.professormesser.com/security-plus/sy0-601/sy0-601-video/mobile-device-management/

Privilege escalation describes the exploitation of an interactive process to gain access to restricted areas. It is a type of attack that allows a normal user to obtain higher privileges or access rights on a system or network, such as administrative or root access. Privilege escalation can be achieved by exploiting a vulnerability, design flaw, or misconfiguration in the system or application. Privilege escalation can allow an attacker to perform unauthorized actions, such as accessing sensitive data, installing malware, or compromising other systems. References:

• https://www.professormesser.com/security-plus/sy0-601/sy0-601-video/privilege-escalation-3/
• https://www.linkedin.com/learning/comptia-security-plus-sy0-601-cert-prep-2-secure-code-design-and-implementation/privilege-escalation

SaaS (Software as a Service) is a cloud model that provides clients with applications and software that are hosted and managed by a cloud provider over the internet. It can move email services to the cloud by allowing clients to access and use email applications without installing or maintaining them on their own devices or servers

Credential stuffing is a type of attack that involves using stolen or leaked usernames and passwords from one website or service to gain unauthorized access to other websites or services that use the same credentials. It can exploit the common practice of reusing passwords across multiple accounts. It is the most likely attack that has been used to compromise the manager’s corporate account, given that the manager is using the same password across multiple external websites and the corporate account, and one of the websites recently experienced a data breach.

Tailgating is a physical security threat that occurs when an unauthorized person follows an authorized person into a restricted area without proper identification or authorization. It can cause unauthorized individuals to roam the hallways after gaining access through badge readers installed for building access.

Reputation is the perception or opinion that customers, partners, investors, etc., have about a company or its products and services. It can affect the revenue and profitability of a company after a network breach, even if no intellectual property or customer information was stolen, because it can damage the trust and confidence of the stakeholders and reduce their willingness to do business with the company

Archiving is the process of storing data for long-term preservation. In the context of IT security, archiving logs is the process of collecting and storing log files from devices in a centralized location. This allows organizations to access and analyze log data for troubleshooting, compliance, and security auditing purposes.

Log aggregation is the process of collecting log data from multiple sources and storing it in a single location. This can be done for performance or security reasons. However, log aggregation does not necessarily involve storing the logs in an off-site location.

DLP (Data Loss Prevention) is a set of technologies and processes that are used to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. DLP can be used to prevent data from being exfiltrated from an organization's network, but it does not typically involve storing logs in an off-site location.

SCAP (Security Content Automation Protocol) is a set of standards and tools that are used to automate the assessment and remediation of security vulnerabilities. SCAP can be used to collect log data from devices, but it does not typically involve storing the logs in an off-site location.

Therefore, the best answer to the question is archiving.

Tainted training data is a type of data poisoning attack that involves modifying or injecting malicious data into the training dataset of a machine learning or artificial intelligence system. It can cause the system to learn incorrect or biased patterns and produce inaccurate or malicious outcomes. It is the most likely reason for the inaccuracy of the system that is using information collected from third-party providers that have been compromised by an attacker.

According to NIST Special Publication 1800-4B1, some of the security controls that can be used to protect mobile devices include:

• Root and jailbreak detection: ensures that the security architecture for a mobile device has not been compromised.
• Encryption: protects the data stored on the device and in transit from unauthorized access.
• Authentication: verifies the identity of the user and the device before granting access to enterprise resources.
• Remote wipe: allows the organization to erase the data on the device in case of loss or theft.
• Screen lock timer: sets a time limit for the device to lock itself after a period of inactivity.

Compensating controls are additional security measures that are implemented to reduce the risk of non-compliant controls. They do not fix the underlying issue, but they provide an alternative way of achieving the same security objective. For example, if a system does not have encryption, a compensating control could be to restrict access to the system or use a secure network connection.

Steganography is a technique for hiding data inside of benign files such as images, audio, or video. This can be used to exfiltrate confidential data without raising suspicion or detection.

References: How to Hide Files Inside Files [Images, Folder] - Raymond.CC Blog; How to Hide Data in a Secret Text File Compartment - How-To Geek; How to Hide Data Within an Image - Medium

Privilege creep is the gradual accumulation of access rights beyond what an individual needs to do his or her job. In information technology, a privilege is an identified right that a particular end user has to a particular system resource, such as a file folder or virtual machine. Privilege creep often occurs when an employee changes job responsibilities within an organization and is granted new privileges. While employees may need to retain their former privileges during a period of transition, those privileges are rarely revoked and result in an unnecessary accumulation of access privileges. Privilege creep creates a security risk by increasing the attack surface and exposing sensitive data or systems to unauthorized or malicious users.

References: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security#examdetails https://www.comptia.org/content/guides/comptia-security-sy0-601-exam-objectives https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/privilege-creep

SIEM stands for Security Information and Event Management, which is a solution that can collect, correlate, and analyze security logs and events from various devices on a network. SIEM can provide better visibility into user activities by generating reports, alerts, dashboards, and metrics. SIEM can also help detect and respond to security incidents, comply with regulations, and improve security posture.

There are three main models for cloud computing: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS)12. Each model represents a different part of the cloud computing stack and provides different levels of control, flexibility, and management.

According to one source1, a public cloud is a type of cloud deployment where the cloud resources (such as servers and storage) are owned and operated by a third-party cloud service provider and delivered over the Internet. A public cloud can be shared with multiple organizations or users who pay for the service on a subscription or pay-as-you-go basis.

Threat feeds, also known as threat intelligence feeds, are a source of information about current and emerging threats, vulnerabilities, and malicious activities targeting organizations. Security analysts use threat feeds to gather information about attacks and threats targeting their industry or sector. These feeds are typically provided by security companies, research organizations, or industry-specific groups. By using threat feeds, analysts can identify trends, patterns, and potential threats that may target their own organization, allowing them to take proactive steps to protect their systems.

References:

1. CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam Objectives (SY0-601): https://www.comptia.jp/pdf/Security%2B%20SY0-601%20Exam%20Objectives.pdf

2. SANS Institute: Threat Intelligence: What It Is, and How to Use It Effectively: https://www.sans.org-room/whitepapers/analyst/threat-intelligence-is-effectively-36367

The best solution to meet the given requirements is to deploy a Privileged Access Management (PAM) solution. PAM solutions allow administrators to create and manage administrative accounts that are assigned to specific users and that have complex passwords. Additionally, PAM solutions provide the ability to enable audit trails and logging on all systems, as well as to set up temporal access for administrative accounts. SAML, ABAC, and CASB are not suitable for this purpose.

A business continuity plan (BCP) is a document that outlines how an organization will continue its critical functions during and after a disruptive event, such as a natural disaster, pandemic, cyberattack, or power outage. A BCP typically covers topics such as business impact analysis, risk assessment, recovery strategies, roles and responsibilities, communication plan, testing and training, and maintenance and review. A BCP can help the organization’s executives determine their next course of action by providing them with a clear framework and guidance for managing the crisis and resuming normal operations.

References: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security#examdetails https://www.comptia.org/content/guides/comptia-security-sy0-601-exam-objectives https://www.ready.gov/business-continuity-plan

Boot attestation is a security feature that enables the computer to verify the integrity of its operating system before it boots. It does this by performing a hash of the operating system and comparing it to the expected hash of the operating system. If the hashes do not match, the computer will not boot and the rootkit will not be allowed to run. This process is also known as measured boot or secure boot.

According to the CompTIA Security+ Study Guide, “Secure Boot is a feature of Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) that ensures that code that is executed during the boot process has been authenticated by a cryptographic signature. Secure Boot prevents malicious code from running at boot time, thus providing assurance that the system is executing only code that is legitimate. This provides a measure of protection against rootkits and other malicious code that is designed to run at boot time.”

Data loss prevention (DLP) is a set of tools and processes that aim to prevent unauthorized access, use, or transfer of sensitive data. DLP can help reduce the risk of further exfiltration using file storage sites on the internet by monitoring and controlling data flows across endpoints, networks, and cloud services. DLP can also detect and block attempts to copy, upload, or download sensitive data to or from file storage sites based on predefined policies and rules.

References: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security#examdetails https://www.comptia.org/content/guides/comptia-security-sy0-601-exam-objectives https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/business/security-101/what-is-data-loss-prevention-dlp