CompTIA SY0-601 - CompTIA Security+ Exam 2023

The administrator should use a round-robin algorithm to split the number of connections on each server in half. Round-robin is a load-balancing algorithm that distributes incoming requests to the available servers one by one in a cyclical order. This helps to evenly distribute the load across all of the servers, ensuring that no single server is overloaded.

A replay attack is a form of network attack in which valid data transmission is maliciously or fraudulently repeated or delayed12. This can allow an attacker to compromise a host by resending a previously captured message, such as a password or a session token, that looks legitimate to the receiver1. A replay attack can be prevented by using methods such as random session keys, timestamps, or one-time passwords that expire after use12. A replay attack is different from an integer overflow, which is a type of software vulnerability that occurs when an arithmetic operation attempts to create a numeric value that is too large to be represented within the available storage space3. A race condition is another type of software vulnerability that occurs when multiple processes access and manipulate the same data concurrently, and the outcome depends on the order of execution3. A memory leak is a type of software defect that occurs when a program fails to release memory that is no longer needed, causing the program to consume more memory than necessary and potentially affecting the performance or stability of the system3.

A service account is a user account that is created specifically to run automated processes and services. These accounts are typically not associated with an individual user, and are used for running background services and scheduled tasks. By configuring a service account to run the automated processes, you can ensure that the account will not be disabled due to password complexity requirements and other user-related issues.

Directory traversal is an attack that exploits a vulnerability in a web application or a file system to access files or directories that are outside the intended scope. The attacker can use special characters, such as …/ or …\ , to navigate through the directory structure and access restricted files or directories.

MDM stands for Mobile Device Management, which is a solution that can be used to manage and secure personal devices that access company data. MDM can enforce policies and rules, such as password protection, encryption, remote wipe, device lock, application control, and more. MDM can help a company enable BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) while protecting sensitive organizational information.

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)

 An authentication application can generate one-time passwords or QR codes that are time-based and unique to each user and device. It does not rely on network connectivity or SMS delivery, which can be intercepted or delayed. It also does not require the user to respond to a push notification, which can be accidentally approved or ignored.

Preventing information exposure is a secure application development concept that aims to block verbose error messages from being shown in a user’s interface. Verbose error messages are detailed messages that provide information about errors or exceptions that occur in an application. Verbose error messages may reveal sensitive information about the application’s structure, configuration, logic, or data that could be exploited by attackers. Therefore, preventing information exposure involves implementing proper error handling mechanisms that display generic or user-friendly messages instead of verbose error messages.

References: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security#examdetails https://www.comptia.org/content/guides/comptia-security-sy0-601-exam-objectives https://owasp.org/www-project-top-ten/2017/A6_2017-Security_Misconfiguration

Tracert is a command-line tool that shows the route that packets take to reach a destination on a network1. It also displays the time it takes for each hop along the way1. By using tracert, you can see if there is a router or firewall that is blocking or slowing down the traffic between the internal workstation and the specific server1.

The role that would most likely include the responsibilities of implementing technical controls to protect data and ensuring backups are properly maintained would be a Backup Administrator. A Backup Administrator is responsible for maintaining and managing an organization's backup systems and procedures, which includes ensuring that backups are properly configured, tested and securely stored. They are also responsible for the recovery of data in case of a disaster or data loss.

A vulnerability scanner is a tool that can scan devices and systems for known vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and compliance issues. By loading the current baselines into the scanner, the organization can compare the actual state of the new laptops with the desired state and identify any deviations or weaknesses. This is a quick and automated way to assess the hardening of the new laptops.

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

Cuckoo is a sandbox that is specifically written to run programs inside and identify any malware. A sandbox is a virtualized environment that isolates the program from the rest of the system and monitors its behavior. Cuckoo can analyze files of various types, such as executables, documents, URLs, and more. Cuckoo can provide a report of the files’ activity against known threats, such as network traffic, file operations, registry changes, API calls, and so on.

A security operations center can implement Cuckoo to execute files to test for malicious activity and generate a report of the analysis. Cuckoo can help the security operations center to detect and prevent malware infections, investigate incidents, and perform threat intelligence.

Using cable locks on the hardware can be an effective way to secure a desktop computer and deter future theft. Cable locks are physical security devices that attach to the computer case and to a nearby stationary object, such as a desk or wall. This makes it more difficult for a thief to remove the computer without damaging it or attracting attention.

Installing proximity card readers on all entryway doors can enhance physical security by limiting access to authorized individuals. Deploying motion sensor cameras in the lobby can also help deter theft by capturing images of any unauthorized individuals entering the premises or attempting to steal the computer. Encrypting the hard drive on the replacement desktop can also help protect sensitive data in the event of theft, but it does not provide physical security for the device itself.

the cat command reads the file and streams its content to standard output. The | symbol connects the output of the left command with the input of the right command. The grep command returns all lines that match the regex. The cut command splits each line into fields based on a delimiter and extracts a specific field.

The most likely cause for the high number of findings is that the vulnerability scanner was not properly configured and generated a high number of false positives. False positive results occur when a vulnerability scanner incorrectly identifies a non-vulnerable system or application as being vulnerable. This can happen due to incorrect configuration, over-sensitive rule sets, or outdated scan databases.

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Key exchange Short Explanation: Key exchange is the process of securely sharing cryptographic keys between two parties over a public network. This allows them to establish a secure communication channel and encrypt their messages. There are different methods of key exchange, such as Diffie-Hellman or RSA. References: https://www.comptia.org/content/guides/what-is-encryption

After the root cause of a security incident has been identified, it is important to take the time to analyze what went wrong and how it could have been prevented. This process is known as “lessons learned” and allows organizations to identify potential improvements to their security processes and protocols. Lessons learned typically involve a review of the incident and the steps taken to address it, a review of the security systems and procedures in place, and an analysis of any potential changes that can be made to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

zero trust is a security strategy that assumes breach and verifies each request as though it originates from an untrusted network12. A zero trust policy is a set of “allow rules” that specify conditions for accessing certain resources3.

According to one source4, the first step in implementing a zero trust policy is to identify and classify all data and assets in the organization. This helps to determine the level of sensitivity and risk associated with each resource and apply appropriate access controls.

Classifying all data on the file servers is the first step in implementing a zero trust policy because it helps to determine the level of sensitivity and risk associated with each resource and apply appropriate access controls.