CompTIA FC0-U71 - CompTIA Tech+ Certification Exam

Personally Identifiable Information (PII) refers to any data that can be used to identify an individual uniquely. Full name and date of birth are classic examples of PII.

“PII includes data such as names, birth dates, Social Security numbers, and other information that can directly or indirectly identify a person.” — CompTIA ITF+ Security Essentials

Correct answers: A and B

According to the CompTIA Tech+ Study Guide (Exam FC0-U71, 3rd Edition, 2025), the SFP (Small Form-Factor Pluggable) connector is directly associated with fiber-optic networking. The guide lists:

“SFP (small form-factor pluggable) connectors are commonly used in fiber-optic connections to allow hot-swappable transceivers for different types of fiber cables.”

Additionally, the same guide’s chapter on Networking Concepts and Technologies explains:

“Fiber-optic around 2 Gbps – Incredibly fast and more expensive than DSL or cable.”

Therefore, fiber Internet is the only service type that uses SFP connectors for data transmission over optical cables.

Verified Reference:

Chapter 8: Networking Concepts and Technologies — “External network connections” and “Common Internet connection types and speeds” (pp. 429–435).

Chapter 2: Peripherals and Connectors — “SFP (small form-factor pluggable) connectors” (pp. 97–98).

This structure uses branching, which allows a program to make decisions based on conditions using " if, " " else if, " and similar statements.

“Branching allows the flow of execution in a program to change based on decisions or conditions.” — CompTIA ITF+ Programming Concepts

Correct answer: D

A cable lock (also called a Kensington lock) physically secures the laptop to a fixed object, making it difficult to steal in public spaces.

“Cable locks are physical security devices used to deter laptop theft by anchoring the device to a desk or other stationary object.” — CompTIA ITF+ Official Guide

A. Firewall is software-based and protects data, not the device.

B. Privacy shields prevent screen visibility, not theft.

C. USB locks prevent port access but not physical theft.

Correct answer: D

A console or command-line interface (CLI) allows users to input text-based commands that the computer can execute.

“The console (or command prompt or terminal) allows direct command input to control an operating system or application without using a graphical interface.” — CompTIA ITF+ Guide

Services are background processes.

Attributes define properties of objects or elements.

Processes are executing programs but are not used for inputting commands.

Correct answer: D

Data at rest refers to information stored on a device or disk, such as a hard drive. The encryption that protects it is typically file-level encryption (or full-disk encryption).

“File-level encryption applies encryption to individual files or directories on storage media and is used to protect data at rest.” — CompTIA ITF+ Study Guide

VPN and HTTPS protect data in transit.

Plaintext means data is unencrypted, and therefore is not protective.

Therefore, A is the correct answer.

A byte consists of exactly 8 bits. Bits (binary digits) are the smallest unit of data, and eight of them grouped together form one byte, which is used to represent characters and numbers in digital systems.

“A byte is made up of 8 bits and is the standard unit of data used to represent information such as characters in computing.” — CompTIA ITF+ Fundamentals

Correct answer: C

The CompTIA Tech+ Study Guide (Exam FC0-U71, 3rd Edition, 2025) defines the least privilege model as:

“One of the key foundations of an authorization system is the least privilege model. This states that users should be granted only the least amount of access required to perform their jobs, and no more. This principle applies to computers, files, databases, and all other available resources.”

This concept ensures that a student cannot access restricted folders such as a teacher’s network folder, because their role does not require that level of access.

Verified Reference:

Chapter 10: Security Concepts and Threats — “Authorization and the Least Privilege Model” (pp. 549–550).

RAM allows multiple applications to run simultaneously. Insufficient RAM causes performance drops:

“When several applications are open, the system relies heavily on RAM for temporary storage of active processes.”

Storage, motherboard, or NIC do not directly handle temporary application memory while multitasking.

The CompTIA Tech+ Study Guide defines:

“Devices that use radio frequency (RF) transmit a very limited range, typically only a few inches or so. This technology is fairly common in mobile payment applications. Because of the short distances involved, a related term you’ll see is near-field communication (NFC).”

NFC allows devices such as smartphones to securely transmit payment data over short distances—precisely the method used in vending machine purchases.

Verified Reference:

Chapter 2: Peripherals and Connectors — “Wireless Connections: NFC” (p. 99).