ECCouncil ECSS - EC-Council Certified Security Specialist (ECSSv10)Exam

 An anonymous proxy is used to hide the user’s identity and make their online activity untraceable. When Mary employed this type of proxy, her details and the content she was surfing over the web became anonymous and difficult to track.

References: EC-Council Certified Security Specialist (E|CSS) documents and study guide1.

William performed the Bluesnarfing attack. Bluesnarfing is a technique where an attacker exploits a vulnerability in the OBject Exchange (OBEX) protocol used by Bluetooth to exchange information. By doing so, the attacker gains unauthorized access to data stored on the victim’s Bluetooth-enabled device.

References:

EC-Council Certified Security Specialist (E|CSS) documents and study guide.

EC-Council Certified Security Specialist (E|CSS) course materials1234

In the context of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), the Registration Authority (RA) plays a crucial role in verifying the identity of individuals or entities requesting digital certificates. Here’s how it works:

Ben, the computer user, applies for a digital certificate.

The RA verifies Ben’s identity using the credentials provided.

Once verified, the RA forwards the request on behalf of Ben to the Certificate Authority (CA).

The CA then issues the digital certificate to Ben.

Therefore, the RA is responsible for ensuring that legitimate individuals receive valid digital certificates by verifying their identity.

References:

EC-Council Certified Security Specialist (E|CSS) documents and study guide1.

EC-Council Certified Security Specialist (E|CSS) course materials2.

 Melissa’s actions classify her as a malicious insider. This category includes individuals who intentionally misuse access to harm the organization. Her intent to seek revenge and her deliberate targeting of the company’s network due to a grudge from being fired are indicative of a malicious insider threat. References: This explanation is based on general cybersecurity knowledge and definitions of insider threats. For specific references, please consult the EC-Council Certified Security Specialist (E|CSS) documents and study materials.

 In the given scenario, Alana’s actions pose a risk related to sharing confidential data on unsecured networks. Here’s why:

BYOD (Bring Your Own Device): Alana used her personal laptop in a public cafeteria. This falls under the BYOD concept, where employees use their personal devices for work-related tasks.

Unsecured Network: Connecting to the public Internet in a cafeteria means she is using an unsecured network. Public Wi-Fi networks are often vulnerable to eavesdropping and unauthorized access.

Email Communication: Alana received a project modifications file via email and sent back another file with changes. Email communication over an unsecured network can expose sensitive information to potential attackers.

Risk: By sharing project-related files over an unsecured network, Alana risks exposing confidential data to unauthorized individuals.

References:

EC-Council Certified Security Specialist (E|CSS) course materials and study guide.

EC-Council Certified Security Specialist (E|CSS) documents and course content12.

The scenario described involves Johnson using a list of possible passwords, which he has ranked by probability, and systematically entering them into the system to discover the correct one. This method is known as a dictionary attack, where an attacker uses a prearranged list of likely passwords—often derived from lists of common passwords or phrases—and tries them one by one. This is different from a brute force attack, which would involve trying all possible combinations, and a rainbow table attack, which uses precomputed hash values to crack encrypted passwords. Password guessing is a less systematic approach that doesn’t necessarily involve a ranked list of passwords. References: The information provided aligns with the knowledge domains of the EC-Council Certified Security Specialist (E|CSS) program, which includes understanding various types of attacks and their methodologies as part of the ethical hacking and network defense curriculum1.

The scenario described involves Johnson, who has a list of valid customers and a list of possible passwords ranked by probability, which he uses to systematically attempt to log in to the target system. This method is known as a dictionary attack. In a dictionary attack, the hacker uses a list of likely passwords—often derived from lists of common passwords or phrases—and tries them one by one. This differs from a brute force attack, which involves trying all possible combinations of characters until the correct one is found.

A dictionary attack is more efficient than brute force because it relies on the likelihood that people will use common words or phrases for passwords, making it a targeted approach based on probability rather than random attempts. Therefore, the correct answer is C, as it best describes the technique used by Johnson in the given scenario.

The scenario closely resembles the behavior of the Agent Smith malware campaign:

Agent Smith Modus Operandi:

Initial Compromise: Users are tricked into downloading seemingly benign apps from unofficial app stores, which contain the malicious payload.

Lateral Spread: Agent Smith infects other legitimate apps on the device, replacing their functionality.

Ad Fraud: The infected apps are used to display excessive, intrusive ads, generating revenue for the attacker.

Scenario Match:

Alice downloads from a third-party store, a common Agent Smith vector.

The malware spreads to other apps, a key feature of Agent Smith.

Ad-based profit motivates the attack, again aligning with Agent Smith.

Kalley’s actions inadvertently introduced malware into the network. Here’s how:

Decoy Application:

A decoy application is a seemingly legitimate software or tool that disguises itself as something useful or appealing.

In Kalley’s case, she received an email claiming that the software was loaded with new clothing offers. Tempted by this, she downloaded it.

Unfortunately, the software turned out to be malicious, infecting her system.

Decoy applications often exploit users’ curiosity or desire for freebies, enticing them to install harmful software.

References:

EC-Council Certified Security Specialist (E|CSS) documents and course materials.

In the given scenario, the banking application employs two-factor authentication (2FA). Here’s why:

Registered Credentials: Kevin logs in with his registered credentials (username and password).

OTP (One-Time Password): The application sends an OTP to Kevin’s mobile for confirmation. This OTP serves as the second factor of authentication.

References:

EC-Council Certified Security Specialist (E|CSS) documents and study guide.

EC-Council Certified Security Specialist (E|CSS) course materials12

Two-factor authentication enhances security by requiring users to provide two different authentication factors (usually something they know, like a password, and something they have, like an OTP) before granting access. It helps protect against unauthorized access even if one factor is compromised.