INFO Midterm 1

What is the function of PCIe slots?

Connect expansion cards like GPUs


What is another name for an RJ45 port used for a wired network connection?

Ethernet

What does POST stand for in the boot process?

Power On Self Test


Which of the following is the correct order during system startup?

BIOS POST Boot loader OS

What does CMOS store?

System settings like date, time, and boot order

What is the role of the BIOS during startup?

Run POST and locate the boot device


What is the main function of the CPU in a computer?

Perform calculations and run programs


What is the purpose of RAM in a computer?

Store temporary data for active processes


What is the main purpose of a GPU?

Render graphics


What differentiates a GPU from a CPU?

GPUs specialize in lots of parallel processing for visual output

What does an operating system (OS) primarily do?

Manage and allocate hardware and software resources


What is the role of the kernel in an OS?

Directly manage hardware resources


What does a driver do in a computing system?

Translates between the OS and hardware devices


Which scenario best illustrates the role of a driver?

Printer driver converts document into hardware-specific command

What is a common misconception?

The web and the internet are the same thing


What phrase is used to help define the term "Internet"?

International Network

What is a good analogy for data packets on the internet?

Postcards

What is the function of an IP address?

Uniquely identify a device on a network


What service translates domain names like "google.com" into IP addresses?

DNS

What extra security feature does HTTPS provide over HTTP?

Encrypted communication

What risk is highlighted when using HTTP instead of HTTPS?

Data packet sniffing of unencrypted www info in transit on a network

What does cybersecurity primarily aim to protect?

Networks, devices, and data from unauthorized access

What is a core principle of data privacy?

Entities must control access to their data

 (NOT Data must be made public
)

Which of the following best defines "Security" in computing?

Having controls in place to limit unauthorized data access

How does privacy relate to security?

Privacy is the goal; security is the method


Which of the following is an example of encoding?

Transforming data to hexadecimal format


What distinguishes encryption from encoding?

Encryption hides keys


What distinguishes encryption from hashing?

Encryption can be reversed


What is a hash most often used for?

Uniquely identifying data without knowing the original

In cybersecurity, what does the 'C' in C.I.A. stand for?

Confidentiality

Which principle ensures data hasn’t been changed unexpectedly?

Integrity

Which of the following supports the Availability principle?

Real time access to systems and data


What does "Least Privilege" mean?

Users only get access needed for their tasks

What is "Implicit Deny"?

Denying all users by default unless specifically allowed


What’s one way to ensure integrity in communications?

Use digital signatures to prove sender/receiver are who they say they are

What is Information Assurance (IA)?

Measures to ensure CIA of information

Which of the following is NOT part of the CIA Triad but is part of IA?

Non-repudiation

"Something you know" refers to which type of authentication?

Password

What does non-repudiation ensure?

That senders and receivers can’t deny sending/receiving


What is the main purpose of CVE identifiers?

Uniquely identify vulnerabilities

What is an attack vector?

The method used to breach systems

Which attack sends generic messages to many recipients?

Phishing

What distinguishes spear-phishing from phishing?

It targets specific individuals


What is spoofing?

Faking identity in digital communication

What does DNS spoofing do?

Redirects you to a fake website, even if you type in the correct URL

What is a common tool used in MitM attacks?

Wireshark

What’s a key feature of a DoS attack? (NOT DDoS.)

One computer floods a system

What defines a botnet?

Network of infected machines


What does a keylogger do?

Logs all keystrokes

What is the primary difference between a virus and a worm?

Worms self propagate without user action


What is a zero-day exploit?

An unknown flaw used before a fix exists

What does XSS do?

Injects malicious code into legitimate websites


What does XSS stand for?

Cross Site Scripting


What does SQL Injection target?

Databases

What is a buffer overflow?

Writing more data than memory can hold


What is a Pass-the-Hash attack?

Using stolen hashed credentials

What is the purpose of a rainbow table?

Listing hashes of passwords using precomputed data


What is session replay?

Capturing and replaying user actions


What is brute force password cracking?

Guessing passwords by trying every combination

What’s a hybrid attack?

Dictionary attack plus symbols and numbers

What is the primary function of a switch in a network?

Forwards data only to the intended recipient device within the same network


Which device is responsible for providing access to the internet by translating digital signals to analog and vice versa?

Modem

What does a router do in a home or office network?

Routes traffic between networks and assigns IP addresses

A gateway is best described as:

A device that connects two different protocols or networks

In a typical home setup, which device usually has built-in switch, router, and modem functionalities?

All in one wireless router/modem

Which device uses MAC addresses to forward data?

Switch

If your ISP provides a public IP address, which device in your home network receives it directly (unless bridged)?

Modem

You need to connect 10 computers in a local office so they can share files. Which device should you use?

Switch

Which of the following devices can function as a firewall or perform NAT (Network Address Translation)?

Router