212-82 Certified Cybersecurity Technician (CCT) Questions and Answers

Fire extinguisher is the firefighting system that Calvin used in this scenario. A firefighting system is a system that detects and suppresses fire in a physical location or environment. A firefighting system can consist of various components, such as sensors, alarms, sprinklers, extinguishers, etc. A firefighting system can use various agents or substances to suppress fire, such as water, foam, gas, powder, etc. A fire extinguisher is a portable device that contains an agent or substance that can be sprayed or discharged onto a fire to extinguish it . A fire extinguisher can be used to curb fire in the initial stage and prevent it from spreading over a large area . In the scenario, Calvin spotted blazing flames originating from a physical file storage location in his organization because of a short circuit. In response to the incident, he used a fire suppression system that helped curb the incident in the initial stage and prevented it from spreading over a large area. This means that he used a fire extinguisher for this purpose. A fire detection system is a system that detects the presence of fire by sensing its characteristics, such as smoke, heat, flame, etc., and alerts the occupants or authorities about it . A sprinkler system is a system that consists of pipes and sprinkler heads that release water onto a fire when activated by heat or smoke. A smoke detector is a device that senses smoke and emits an audible or visual signal to warn about fire.

Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) Overview:

UEM solutions provide comprehensive management for a wide range of endpoints, including mobile devices, desktops, laptops, and even IoT devices. They integrate Mobile Device Management (MDM) and Mobile Application Management (MAM) functionalities.

For an e-commerce company undergoing rapid expansion, the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) is the most relevant risk management framework:

Customizability: NIST CSF is designed to be flexible and scalable, making it suitable for a growing e-commerce platform.

Comprehensive Approach: Covers identification, protection, detection, response, and recovery, which are critical for e-commerce security.

Industry Agnostic: Applicable across various sectors, providing a robust foundation for different security needs.

Guidance and Best Practices: NIST CSF provides detailed guidelines and best practices that help organizations develop a comprehensive security posture.

References:

NIST Cybersecurity Framework:NIST CSF

Implementation of NIST CSF in e-commerce: SANS Institute

For a mobile banking app, ensuring secure user authentication is crucial. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) provides a robust security layer:

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):

Definition: MFA requires users to provide two or more verification factors to gain access, combining something they know (password), something they have (smartphone), and something they are (biometric verification).

Security Benefits: Significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access even if one factor is compromised.

Implementation:

User Convenience: Integrate seamlessly into the app to maintain a positive user experience.

Enhanced Security: Protects against various attack vectors, including phishing, brute force attacks, and credential stuffing.

References:

NIST Digital Identity Guidelines:NIST SP 800-63

OWASP Mobile Security Testing Guide: OWASP MSTG

To identify and connect to the Trojan server and explore available files on the workstation located at172.30.20.75, follow these steps:

Locate the Tools: Navigate to the directory"Z:\CCT-Tools\CCT Module 01 Information Security Threats and Vulnerabilities\Remote Access Trojans (RAT)"on Attacker Machine-1.

Select a RAT Client: Choose a Trojan client application from the available tools (e.g., EchoStrike).

Configure the Client: Open the RAT client application and configure it to connect to the IP address172.30.20.75.

Establish Connection: Connect to the Trojan server. This typically involves entering the target IP address and any necessary credentials or settings specific to the Trojan being used.

Explore Files: Once connected, navigate to thePicturesfolder on the workstation.

Identify the VBScript File: Look for the VBScript file located in thePicturesfolder.

Given the options, the correct VBScript file in this context is identified asEchoStrike.

References:

EC-Council materials on RAT tools and their usage.

Practical experience in ethical hacking and penetration testing methodologies.

Digital locks are the types of physical locks that Juan installed in this scenario. A physical lock is a device that prevents or restricts access to a physical location or environment, such as a door, a cabinet, a drawer, etc. A physical lock can have different types based on its mechanism or technology. A digital lock is a type of physical lock that uses electronic or digital components, such as a keypad, a card reader, a fingerprint scanner, etc., to unlock or lock . A digital lock can be used to provide enhanced security and convenience to users, but it can also be vulnerable to hacking or tampering. In the scenario, Juan installed a physical lock at the entrance of eachfloor. All employees in the organization were allotted a smart card embedded in their ID cards, which had to be swiped to unlock doors and access any floor. This means that he installed digital locks for those doors. A mechanical lock is a type of physical lock that uses mechanical components, such as a key, a bolt, a latch, etc., to unlock or lock. A combination lock is a type of physical lock that uses a sequence of numbers or symbols, such as a dial, a wheel, or a keypad, to unlock or lock. An electromagnetic lock is a type of physical lock that uses an electromagnet and an armature plate to unlock or lock. 

/var/log/wtmp is the Linux log file accessed by Gideon in this scenario. /var/log/wtmp is a log file that records information related to user login/logout, such as username, terminal, IP address, and login time. /var/log/wtmp can be used to determine the current login state of users in a Linux system. /var/log/wtmp can be viewed using commands such as last, lastb, or utmpdump1.

References: Linux Log Files

The correct answer is B, as it identifies the type of account that the organization has given to Sam in the above scenario. A guest account is a type of account that allows temporary or limited access to a system or network for visitors or users who do not belong to the organization. A guest account typically has minimal privileges and permissions and can only access certain files or applications. In the above scenario, the organization has given Sam a guest account for the demonstration. Using this account, Sam can only access the files that are required for the demonstration and cannot open any other file in the system. Option A is incorrect, as it does not identify the type of account that the organization has given to Sam in the above scenario. A service account is a type of account that allows applications or services to run on a system or network under a specific identity. A service account typically has high privileges and permissions and can access various files or applications. In the above scenario, the organization has not given Sam a service account for the demonstration. Option C is incorrect, as it does not identify the type of account that the organization has given to Sam in the above scenario. A user account is a type of account that allows regular access to a system or network for employees or members of an organization. A user account typically has moderate privileges and permissions and can access various files or applications depending on their role. In the above scenario, the organization has not given Sam a user account for thedemonstration. Option D is incorrect, as it does not identify the type of account that the organization has given to Sam in the above scenario. An administrator account is a type of account that allows full access to a system or network for administrators or managers of an organization. An administrator account typically has the highest privileges and permissions and can access and modify any files or applications. In the above scenario, the organization has not given Sam an administrator account for the demonstration.

References: , Section 4.1

SQL Injection Basics:

SQL injection is a code injection technique that exploits vulnerabilities in an application's software by inserting malicious SQL statements into an input field for execution.

The testing tier of a secure application development lifecycle involves checking the performance of the application on the client’s network to determine whether end users are facing any issues in accessing the application. Testing is a crucial phase of software development that ensures the quality, functionality, reliability, and security of the application. Testing can be done manually or automatically using various tools and techniques, such as unit testing, integration testing, system testing, regression testing, performance testing, usability testing, security testing, and acceptance testing

Bit-stream imaging is the method utilized by Ruben in the above scenario. Bit-stream imaging is a method that involves creating a cloned copy of the entire media and prevents the contamination of the original media. Bit-stream imaging copies all the data on the media, including deleted files and folders, hidden partitions, slack space, etc., at a bit level. Bit-stream imaging preserves the integrity and authenticity of the digital evidence and allows further analysis without affecting the original media. Sparse acquisition is a method that involves creating a partial copy of the media by skipping empty sectors or blocks. Drive decryption is a method that involves decrypting an encrypted drive or partition using a password or a key. Logical acquisition is a method that involves creating a copy of the logical files and folders on the media using file system commands.

 Type = 12 is the type of ICMP error message received by Jaden in the above scenario. ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) is a protocol that sends error and control messages between network devices. ICMP error messages are categorized by types and codes, which indicate the cause and nature of the error. Type = 12 is the type of ICMP error message that indicates an IP parameter problem, which means that the IP header field contains invalid information . Type = 8 is the type of ICMP message that indicates an echo request, which is used to test the connectivity and reachability of a destination host. Type = 5 is the type of ICMP error message that indicates a redirect, which means that a better route to the destination host is available. Type = 3 is the type of ICMP error message that indicates a destination unreachable, which means that the destination host or network cannot be reached. 

Exception handling is a secure application design principle that states that the application should handle errors and exceptions gracefully and securely, without exposing sensitive information or compromising the system’s functionality. Exception handling can help prevent attackers from exploiting errors or exceptions to gain access to data or resources or cause denial-of-service attacks. In the scenario, Miguel identified a flaw in the end-point communication that can disclose the target application’s data, which means that the application did not meet the exception handling principle.

 A data-driven hunting method is a type of threat hunting method that employs existing data collected from various sources, such as DNS and proxy logs, to generate and test hypotheses about potential threats. This method relies on data analysis and machine learning techniques to identify patterns and anomalies that indicate malicious activity. A data-driven hunting method can help discover unknown or emerging threats that may evade traditional detection methods. An entity-driven hunting method is a type of threat hunting method that focuses on specific entities, such as users, devices, or domains, that are suspected or known to be involved in malicious activity. A TTP-driven hunting method is a type of threat hunting method that leverages threat intelligence and knowledge of adversary tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) to formulate and test hypotheses about potential threats. A hybrid hunting method is a type of threat hunting method that combines different approaches, such as data-driven, entity-driven, and TTP-driven methods, to achieve more comprehensive and effective results. 

WEP is the type of wireless encryption employed by Charlie in the above scenario. Wireless encryption is a technique that involves encoding or scrambling the data transmitted over a wireless network to prevent unauthorized access or interception. Wireless encryption can use various algorithms or protocols to encrypt and decrypt the data, such as WEP, WPA, WPA2, etc. WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) is a type of wireless encryption that uses the RC4 algorithm to encrypt information in the data link layer . WEP can be used to provide basic security and privacy for wireless networks, but it can also be easily cracked or compromised by various attacks . In the scenario, Charlie, a security professional in an organization, noticed unauthorized access and eavesdropping on the WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network). To thwart such attempts, Charlie employed an encryption mechanism that used the RC4 algorithm to encrypt information in the data link layer. This means that he employed WEP for this purpose. TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) is a type of wireless encryption that uses the RC4 algorithm to encrypt information in the data link layer with dynamic keys . TKIP can be used to provide enhanced security and compatibility for wireless networks, but it can also be vulnerable to certain attacks . AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) is a type of wireless encryption that uses the Rijndael algorithm to encrypt information in the data link layer with fixed keys . AES can be used to provide strong security and performance for wireless networks, but it can also require more processing power and resources . CCMP (Counter Mode with Cipher Block Chaining Message Authentication CodeProtocol) is a type of wireless encryption that uses the AES algorithm to encrypt information in the data link layer with dynamic keys . CCMP can be used to provide robust security and reliability for wireless networks, but it can also require more processing power and resources

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is the wireless technology that the software company has implemented in the above scenario. RFID uses radio-frequency electromagnetic waves to transfer data for automatic identification and for tracking tags attached to objects1112. WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is a wireless technology that provides high-speed broadband access over long distances13. Bluetooth is a wireless technology that enables short-range data communication between devices, such as phones, laptops, printers, etc.14. Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) is a wireless technology that allows devices to connect to a local area network or the internet using radio waves

Data in transit is the state of data when it is being processed between the ecommerce website and the payment gateway in the above scenario. Data in transit is 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 unauthorized parties, so it needs to be protected by encryption, authentication, and other security measures . Data at rest is data that is stored on a device or a media, such as a hard drive, a flash drive, or a cloud storage. Data in active is data that is currently being accessed or modified by an application or a user. Data in use is data that is loaded into the memory of a device or a system for processing or computation. 

Jane encountered a combination of social engineering tactics:

Spear Phishing:

CEO Impersonation Email: The initial email and the follow-up with the scanned image of the CEO's handwritten note are examples of spear phishing, where attackers target specific individuals with tailored messages to gain their trust and extract sensitive information.

Vishing:

'IT Support' Call: The phone call from the supposed 'IT support' representative asking Jane to download a 'security patch' is a form of vishing (voice phishing). This tactic involves using phone calls to trick victims into revealing sensitive information or performing actions that compromise security.

References:

Social Engineering Techniques: SANS Institute Reading Room

Phishing and Vishing Explained: Norton Security

 hat@red is the FTP credential that was stolen using Cain and Abel in the above scenario. FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a protocol that allows transferring files between a client and a server over a network. FTP requires a username and a password to authenticate the client and grant access to the server . Cain and Abel is a tool that can perform various network attacks, such as ARP poisoning, password cracking, sniffing, etc. Cain and Abel can poison the machine and fetch the FTP credentials used by the admin by intercepting and analyzing the network traffic . To validate the credentials that were stolen using Cain and Abel and read the file flag.txt, one has to follow these steps:

Navigate to the Documents folder of Attacker-1 machine.

Double-click on Cain.exe file to launch Cain and Abel tool.

Click on Sniffer tab.

Click on Start/Stop Sniffer icon.

Click on Configure icon.

Select the network adapter and click on OK button.

Click on + icon to add hosts to scan.

Select All hosts in my subnet option and click on OK button.

Wait for the hosts to appear in the list.

Right-click on 20.20.10.26 (FTP server) and select Resolve Host Name option.

Note down the host name as ftpserver.movieabc.com

Click on Passwords tab.

Click on + icon to add items to list.

Select Network Passwords option.

Select FTP option from Protocol drop-down list.

Click on OK button.

Wait for the FTP credentials to appear in the list.

Note down the username as hat and the password as red

Open a web browser and type ftp://hat:red@ftpserver.movieabc.com

Press Enter key to access the FTP server using the stolen credentials.

Navigate to flag.txt file and open it.

Read the file content.

Temp_High is the command that was sent by the IoT device over the network in the above scenario. An IoT (Internet of Things) device is a device that can connect to the internet and communicate with other devices or systems over a network. An IoT device can send or receive commands or data for various purposes, such as monitoring, controlling, or automating processes. To analyze the IoT device traffic file and determine the command that was sent by the IoT device over the network, one has to follow these steps:

Navigate to the Documents folder of Attacker-1 machine.

Double-click on loTdeviceTraffic.pcapng file to open it with Wireshark.

Click on Analyze menu and select Display Filters option.

Enter udp.port == 5000 as filter expression and click on Apply button.

Observe the packets filtered by the expression.

Click on packet number 4 and expand User Datagram Protocol section in packet details pane.

Observe the data field under User Datagram Protocol section.

The data field under User Datagram Protocol section is 54:65:6d:70:5f:48:69:67:68 , which is hexadecimal representation of Temp_High , which is the command that was sent by the IoT device over the network. 

GDPR Overview:

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a regulation in EU law on data protection and privacy for individuals within the European Union and the European Economic Area.

 Turn the device ON if it is OFF, do not leave the device as it is if it is ON, and make sure that the device is charged are some of the points that Shawn must follow while preserving the digital evidence in the above scenario. Digital evidence is any information or data stored or transmitted in digital form that can be used in a legal proceeding or investigation. Digital evidence can be found on various devices, such as computers, mobile phones, tablets, etc. Preserving digital evidence is a crucial step in forensic investigation that involves protecting and maintaining the integrity and authenticity of digital evidence from any alteration or damage. Some of the points that Shawn must follow while preserving digital evidence are:

Turn the device ON if it is OFF: If the device is OFF, Shawn must turn it ON to prevent any data loss or encryption that may occur when the device is powered off. Shawn must also document any password or PIN required to unlock or access the device.

Do not leave the device as it is if it is ON: If the device is ON, Shawn must not leave it as it is or use it for any purpose other than preserving digital evidence. Shawn must also disable any network connections or communication features on the device, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular data, etc., to prevent any remote access or deletion of data by unauthorized parties.

Make sure that the device is charged: Shawn must ensure that the device has enough battery power to prevent any data loss or corruption that may occur due to sudden shutdown or low battery. Shawn must also use a write blocker or a Faraday bag to isolate the device from any external interference or signals.

Never record the screen display of the device is not a point that Shawn must follow while preserving digital evidence. On contrary, Shawn should record or photograph the screen display of the device to capture any relevant information or messages that may appear on the screen. Recording or photographing the screen display of the device can also help document any changes or actions performed on the device during preservation. 

Leaving the thermostat connected to the "Guest" Wi-Fi network, which is open to all guests, is the least effective action in protecting it from unauthorized access. Here is a detailed explanation:

Network Segmentation:

A guest Wi-Fi network is typically designed to provide internet access to visitors without granting access to the main network or its devices. However, if the guest network is open (i.e., no password), it poses significant security risks.

The number of files in the “Sensitive Corporate Documents” folder is 4. This can be verified by initiating a remote connection to the target machine from the “Attacker Machine-1” using Theef client. Theef is a Remote Access Trojan (RAT) that allows an attacker to remotely control a victim’s machine and perform various malicious activities. To connect to the target machine using Theef client, one can follow these steps:

Launch Theef client from Z:\CCT-Tools\CCT Module 01 Information Security Threats and Vulnerabilities\Remote Access Trojans (RAT)\Theef on the “Attacker Machine-1”.

Enter the IP address of the target machine (20.20.10.26) and click on Connect.

Wait for a few seconds until a connection is established and a message box appears saying “Connection Successful”.

Click on OK to close the message box and access the remote desktop of the target machine.

Navigate to the Documents directory and locate the “Sensitive Corporate Documents” folder.

Open the folder and count the number of files in it. The screenshot below shows an example of performing these steps: References: [Theef Client Tutorial], [Screenshot of Theef client showing remote desktop and folder]

HIPPA/PHI is the regulation that is mostly violated in the above scenario. HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) is a US federal law that sets standards for protecting the privacy and security of health information. PHI (Protected Health Information) is any information that relates to the health or health care of an individual and that can identify the individual, such as name, address, medical records, etc. HIPPA/PHI requires covered entities, such as health care providers, health plans, or health care clearinghouses, and their business associates, to safeguard PHI from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure . In the scenario, the medical company experienced a major cyber security breach that exposed the personal medical records of many patients on the internet, which violates HIPPA/PHI regulations. PII (Personally Identifiable Information) is any information that can be used to identify a specific individual, such as name, address, social security number, etc. PII is not specific to health information and can be regulated by various laws, such as GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act), etc. PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard)is a set of standards that applies to entities that store, process, or transmit payment card information, such as merchants, service providers, or payment processors. PCI DSS requires them to protect cardholder data from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. ISO 2002 (International Organization for Standardization 2002) is not a regulation, but a standard for information security management systems that provides guidelines and best practices for organizations to manage their information security risks. 

Riley’s public key is the key that Louis used to verify the digital signature in the above scenario. A digital signature is a cryptographic technique that verifies the authenticity and integrity of a message or document. A digital signature is created by applying a hash function to the message or document and then encrypting the hash value with the sender’s private key. A digital signature can be verified by decrypting the hash value with the sender’s public key and comparing it with the hash value of the original message or document . Riley’s public key is the key that corresponds to Riley’s private key, which he used to sign the message. Louis’s public key is the key that corresponds to Louis’s private key, which he may use to encrypt or decrypt messages with Riley. Louis’s private key is the key that only Louis knows and can use to sign or decrypt messages. Riley’s private key is the key that only Riley knows and can use to sign or encrypt messages.

Purple team is the team that Alex works for in this scenario. A team is a group of people that work together to achieve a common goal or objective. A team can have different types based on its role or function in an organization or a project. A purple team is a type of team that works for both aggressor and defender teams. A purple team can be used to enhance protection and boost the security standards of an organization by performing various tasks, such as testing, evaluating, improving, or integrating the security measures implemented by the defender team or exploited by the aggressor team. In the scenario, Alex is a certified security professional who works for both aggressor and defender teams. His team’s main responsibility involves enhancing protection and boosting the security standards of the organization. This means that he works for a purple team. A white team is a type of team that acts as an observer or an arbitrator between the aggressor and defender teams. A white team can be used to monitor, evaluate, or adjudicate the performance or outcome of the aggressor and defender teams by providing feedback, guidance, or rules. A blue team is a type of team that acts as a defender or a protector of an organization’s network or system. A blue team can be used to prevent, detect, or respond to attacks from external or internal threats by implementing various security measures, such as firewalls, antivirus, encryption, etc. A red team is a type of team that acts as an attacker or an adversary of an organization’s network or system. A red team can be used to simulate realistic attacks from external or internal threats by exploiting various vulnerabilities, weaknesses, or gaps in the organization’s security posture.

A low-interaction honeypot is a type of honeypot that simulates a real OS as well as the applications and services of a target network, but only responds to pre-configured commands. It is designed to capture basic information about the attacker, such as their IP address, tools, and techniques. A low-interaction honeypot is easier to deploy and maintain than a high-interaction honeypot, which fully emulates a real system and allows the attacker to interact with it. A pure honeypot is a real system that is intentionally vulnerable and exposed to attackers. A medium-interaction honeypot is a type of honeypot that offers more functionality and interactivity than a low-interaction honeypot, but less than a high-interaction honeypot.

Traceroute is the network troubleshooting utility employed by Steve in the above scenario. Traceroute is a utility that traces the route of packets from a source host to a destination host over a network. Traceroute sends ICMP echo request packets with increasing TTL (Time to Live) values and records the ICMP echo reply packets from each intermediate router or gateway along the path. Traceroute can help identify the network hops, latency, and packet loss between the source and destination hosts . Dnsenum is a utility that enumerates DNS information from a domain name or an IP address. Arp is a utility that displays and modifies the ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) cache of a host. Ipconfig is a utility that displays and configures the IP (Internet Protocol) settings of a host.

Admissible is the rule of evidence discussed in the above scenario. A rule of evidence is a criterion or principle that determines whether a piece of evidence can be used in a legal proceeding or investigation. Admissible is a rule of evidence that states that the evidence must be relevant, reliable, authentic, and understandable to be accepted by a court or a jury . Admissible also means that the evidence must be obtained legally and ethically, without violating any laws or rights. In the scenario, Kason has documented all the supporting documents, including source of the evidence and its relevance to the case, before presenting it in front of the jury, which means that he has followed the admissible rule of evidence. Authentic is a rule of evidence that states that the evidence must be original or verifiable as genuine and not altered or tampered with. Understandable is a rule of evidence that states that the evidence must be clear and comprehensible to the court or jury and not ambiguous or confusing. Reliable is a rule of evidence that states that the evidence must be consistent and trustworthy and not based on hearsay or speculation.

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is a short-range wireless communication technology that uses radio waves to identify and track objects. RFID tags are attached to objects and RFID readers scan the tags to obtain the information stored in them. RFID is commonly used for access control, inventory management, and identification3. References: What is RFID?

Capture is the Wireshark menu that Leilani has navigated in the above scenario. Wireshark is a network analysis tool that captures and displays network traffic in real-time or from saved files. Wireshark has various menus that contain different items and options for manipulating, displaying, and analyzing network data. Capture is the Wireshark menu that contains items to start, stop, restart, or save a live capture of network traffic. Capture also contains items to configure capture filters, interfaces, options, and preferences . Statistics is the Wireshark menu that contains items to display various statistics and graphs of network traffic, such as packet lengths, protocols, endpoints, conversations, etc. Main toolbar is the Wireshark toolbar that contains icons for quick access to common functions, such as opening or saving files, starting or stopping a capture, applying display filters, etc. Analyze is the Wireshark menu that contains items to manipulate, display and apply filters, enable or disable the dissection of protocols, and configure user-specified decodes.

John-the-Ripper Usage:

John-the-Ripper is a popular open-source password cracking tool used to detect weak passwords. It works by performing dictionary attacks and brute force attacks on password hashes.

Exception handling is a secure application design principle that states that the application should handle errors and exceptions gracefully and securely, without exposing sensitive information or compromising the system’s functionality. Exception handling can help prevent attackers from exploiting errors or exceptions to gain access to data or resources or cause denial-of-service attacks. In the scenario, Miguel identified a flaw in the end-point communication that can disclose the target application’s data, which means that the application did not meet the exception handling principle.

The primary distinction between an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) and an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) lies in their response to detected threats:

Intrusion Detection System (IDS):

Function: Monitors network traffic and system activities for suspicious behavior.

Response: Generates alerts and logs events for analysis.

Role: Passive; does not take action to block or prevent threats. Requires manual intervention to respond to alerts.

Intrusion Prevention System (IPS):

Function: Monitors network traffic and system activities similarly to an IDS but with additional capabilities.

Response: Actively blocks and mitigates threats in real-time.

Role: Proactive; takes automatic actions to prevent or mitigate threats without the need for human intervention.

Scenario Explanation:

In the given scenario, the IDS detected suspicious activity and alerted the security team, allowing them to investigate further.

The IPS, on the other hand, immediately blocked the malicious traffic, preventing the intrusion from succeeding.

References:

EC-Council Certified Network Defender (CND) and Certified Security Analyst (ECSA) materials.

Industry standards on network security and intrusion detection/prevention systems.

The correct answer is B, as it identifies the type of account that the organization has given to Sam in the above scenario. A guest account is a type of account that allows temporary or limited access to a system or network for visitors or users who do not belong to the organization. A guest account typically has minimal privileges and permissions and can only access certain files or applications. In the above scenario, the organization has given Sam a guest account for the demonstration. Using this account, Sam can only access the files that are required for the demonstration and cannot open any other file in the system. Option A is incorrect, as it does not identify the type of account that the organization has given to Sam in the above scenario. A service account is a type of account that allows applications or services to run on a system or network under a specific identity. A service account typically has high privileges and permissions and can access various files or applications. In the above scenario, the organization has not given Sam a service account for the demonstration. Option C is incorrect, as it does not identify the type of account that the organization has given to Sam in the above scenario. A user account is a type of account that allows regular access to a system or network for employees or members of an organization. A user account typically has moderate privileges and permissions and can access various files or applications depending on their role. In the above scenario, the organization has not given Sam a user account for thedemonstration. Option D is incorrect, as it does not identify the type of account that the organization has given to Sam in the above scenario. An administrator account is a type of account that allows full access to a system or network for administrators or managers of an organization. An administrator account typically has the highest privileges and permissions and can access and modify any files or applications. In the above scenario, the organization has not given Sam an administrator account for the demonstration.

References: , Section 4.1

TCP/UDP is the protocol that has been used to apply the rule to block the web application www.abchacker.com in the above scenario. pfSense is a firewall and router software that can be installed on a computer or a device to protect a network from various threats and attacks. pfSense can be configured to block or allow traffic based on various criteria, such as source, destination, port, protocol, etc. pfSense rules are applied to traffic in the order they appear in the firewall configuration . To perform an analysis on the rules set by the admin, one has to follow these steps:

Open a web browser and type 20.20.10.26

Press Enter key to access the pfSense web interface.

Enter admin as username and admin@l23 as password.

Click on Login button.

Click on Firewall menu and select Rules option.

Click on LAN tab and observe the rules applied to LAN interface.

The rules applied to LAN interface are:

The first rule blocks any traffic from LAN interface to www.abchacker.com website using TCP/UDP protocol. The second rule allows any traffic from LAN interface to any destination using any protocol. Since the first rule appears before the second rule, it has higher priority and will be applied first. Therefore, TCP/UDP is the protocol that has been used to apply the rule to block the web application www.abchacker.com. POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3) is a protocol that allows downloading emails from a mail server to a client device. FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a protocol that allows transferring files between a client and a server over a network. ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) is a protocol that resolves IP addresses to MAC (Media Access Control) addresses on a network. 

GDPR Overview:

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a comprehensive data protection law in the European Union that sets out requirements for companies and organizations on collecting, storing, and managing personal data.

WPA3 encryption is the type of wireless encryption used by the security solution employed by Matias in the above scenario. WPA3 encryption is the latest and most secure version of Wi-FiProtected Access, a protocol that provides authentication and encryption for wireless networks. WPA3 encryption uses 256-bit Galois/Counter Mode Protocol (GCMP-256) to maintain the authenticity and confidentiality of data. WPA3 encryption also provides enhanced protection against offline dictionary attacks, forward secrecy, and secure public Wi-Fi access . WPA2 encryption is the previous version of Wi-Fi Protected Access, which uses Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) or Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) for data encryption. WEP encryption is an outdated and insecure version of Wi-Fi security, which uses RC4 stream cipher for data encryption. WPA encryption is an intermediate version of Wi-Fi security, which uses TKIP for data encryption.

4 is the UID that is mapped to user john in the database table in the above scenario. SQL injection is a type of web application attack that exploits a vulnerability in a web application that allows an attacker to inject malicious SQL statements into an input field, such as a username or password field, and execute them on the database server. SQL injection can be used to bypass authentication, access or modify sensitive data, execute commands, etc. To exploit the web application and fetch the user credentials, one has to follow these steps:

Open a web browser and type www.movieabc.com

Press Enter key to access the web application.

Enter sam as username and test as password.

Click on Login button.

Observe that a welcome message with username sam is displayed.

Click on Logout button.

Enter sam’ or ‘1’='1 as username and test as password.

Click on Login button.

Observe that a welcome message with username admin is displayed, indicating that SQL injection was successful.

Click on Logout button.

Enter sam’; SELECT * FROM users; – as username and test as password.

Click on Login button.

Observe that an error message with user credentials from users table is displayed.

The user credentials from users table are:

The UID that is mapped to user john is 4.

In the context of developing a cryptographic protocol resilient against quantum computing attacks, SHA-3 is the most appropriate choice. Here’s why:

Quantum Computing Threats: Quantum computers can potentially break current cryptographic methods like RSA and ECC due to Shor's algorithm. Traditional hash functions like SHA-256 might not offer sufficient security in a post-quantum world.

SHA-3 Overview: SHA-3, part of the Secure Hash Algorithm family, was designed with quantum resistance in mind. It was selected through an open competition by NIST, ensuring it incorporates advanced cryptographic techniques.

Resilience: SHA-3’s design is fundamentally different from SHA-2, providing enhanced security properties, including resistance to various attack vectors that might be feasible with quantum computing advancements.

References:

NIST SHA-3 Standard:NIST FIPS PUB 202

Research on quantum-resistant cryptography:IEEE Xplore

Containerization is the technique that Stephen has implemented in the above scenario. Containerization is a technique that isolates personal and corporate data on an employee’s mobile device. Containerization creates separate encrypted containers or partitions on the device, where corporate applications and data are stored and managed. Containerization prevents corporate data leakage on employees’ mobile devices by restricting access, sharing, copying, or transferring of data between containers. Containerization also allows remote wiping of corporate data in case of device loss or theft . Full device encryption is a technique that encrypts all the data on a mobile device using a password or a key. Geofencing is a technique that uses GPS or RFID to define geographical boundaries and trigger actions based on the location of a mobile device. OTA (Over-the-Air) updates are updates that are delivered wirelessly to mobile devices without requiring physical connection to a computer.

Strong Security:

EAP-TLS provides strong security by using certificate-based authentication. This ensures that both the client and server are authenticated before a connection is established.

Mounting the VeraCrypt Volume:

Use VeraCrypt to mount the volume fileS3cr3tlocated in the Pictures folder. The provided passwordsniffer@123is required to mount the volume.