Operating System Security Threats and Countermeasures: Master the Essentials

Question 1

What are the critical consequences of a compromised privileged account in an operating system?

Accepted Answer

Unauthorized access to sensitive data and critical system resources

Answer

Degraded system performance

Answer

Disabled automatic updates and security patches

Answer

Minimal increase in security risk

Question 2

What is the primary purpose of a rootkit?

Accepted Answer

To grant unauthorized access to a system and maintain persistence

Answer

To elevate privileges to the root level

Answer

To exploit vulnerabilities in operating system kernels

Answer

To steal sensitive data

Question 3

What is the primary goal of operating system hardening?

Accepted Answer

To minimize the attack surface and reduce vulnerabilities

Answer

To enhance system performance and stability

Answer

To ensure data integrity and prevent unauthorized access

Answer

To facilitate remote access and management

Question 4

What is the primary significance of patch management in operating system security?

Accepted Answer

To address and mitigate newly discovered vulnerabilities and security issues

Answer

To improve system stability and performance

Answer

To reduce the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access

Answer

To facilitate remote system management and updates

Question 5

What is the primary function of a security information and event management (SIEM) system?

Accepted Answer

To collect, analyze, and correlate security-related events and alerts

Answer

To prevent unauthorized access to systems and data

Answer

To detect and respond to security incidents in real-time

Answer

To manage user accounts, permissions, and access rights

Question 6

What is the key distinction between a vulnerability and a threat?

Accepted Answer

A vulnerability is a weakness or flaw in a system that can be exploited, while a threat is an action or event that can exploit the vulnerability

Answer

A threat is a potential risk, while a vulnerability is a known and specific security flaw

Answer

A threat is always malicious, while a vulnerability can be both intentional or unintentional

Answer

There is no difference between a threat and a vulnerability

Question 7

Which of the following is a primary function of an antivirus software?

Accepted Answer

Detecting and removing malware

Answer

Blocking unauthorized network connections

Answer

Monitoring system activity for suspicious behavior

Answer

Encrypting sensitive data

Question 8

What is the purpose of using a honeypot in cybersecurity?

Accepted Answer

To lure attackers into a controlled environment

Answer

To monitor network traffic for malicious activity

Answer

To store and analyze security logs

Answer

To prevent unauthorized access to critical systems

Question 9

Which of the following is a type of intrusion detection system (IDS) that monitors network traffic in real-time?

Accepted Answer

Network-based IDS

Answer

Host-based IDS

Answer

Signature-based IDS

Answer

Anomaly-based IDS

Question 10

What is the primary difference between a firewall and an intrusion detection system (IDS)?

Accepted Answer

A firewall prevents unauthorized access, while an IDS detects malicious activity

Answer

An IDS prevents unauthorized access, while a firewall detects malicious activity

Answer

Both firewalls and IDS prevent unauthorized access

Answer

Both firewalls and IDS detect malicious activity

Question 11

Which technique is commonly used to exploit buffer overflow vulnerabilities?

Accepted Answer

Stack smashing

Answer

Heap spraying

Answer

Format string attack

Answer

SQL injection

Question 12

What is the primary goal of a rootkit?

Accepted Answer

Obtain and maintain unauthorized access to a system

Answer

Steal confidential data

Answer

Disrupt system operations

Answer

Encrypt data for ransom payments

Question 13

Which type of operating system security threat can alter system behavior?

Accepted Answer

Malware

Answer

Denial-of-service attack

Answer

Man-in-the-middle attack

Answer

Phishing

Question 14

Why is it crucial to apply patches to operating systems?

Accepted Answer

To address security vulnerabilities

Answer

To enhance functionality

Answer

To improve performance

Answer

To remove superfluous software

Question 15

Which tool is commonly employed to identify and analyze buffer overflows?

Accepted Answer

GDB

Answer

Wireshark

Answer

Nmap

Answer

Metasploit

Question 16

What is the key distinction between a privilege escalation and a rootkit?

Accepted Answer

Privilege escalation grants elevated privileges, while a rootkit operates stealthily and provides persistent access.

Answer

Privilege escalation is a form of rootkit.

Answer

Rootkits are inherently more severe than privilege escalation attacks.

Answer

Privilege escalation attacks always succeed, while rootkits can be detected and eliminated.

Question 17

What is the primary function of a firewall in operating system security?

Accepted Answer

Preventing unauthorized access to a system

Answer

Detecting and responding to security incidents

Answer

Providing intrusion detection capabilities

Answer

Protecting against malware infections

Question 18

Which of the following countermeasures is implemented to prevent privilege escalation?

Accepted Answer

Least privilege principle

Answer

Intrusion prevention systems

Answer

Firewalls

Answer

Encryption

Question 19

Which of the following is a primary technique used by rootkits to evade detection?

Accepted Answer

Hiding files and processes

Answer

Buffer overflow

Answer

SQL injection

Answer

Brute-force attacks

Question 20

Which of the following is an effective mitigation strategy against buffer overflows?

Accepted Answer

Input validation

Answer

Virtualization

Answer

Intrusion detection systems

Answer

Firewalls

Question 21

Which of the following is a countermeasure specifically designed to combat rootkits?

Accepted Answer

Anti-rootkit tools

Answer

Virtualization

Answer

Firewalls

Answer

Intrusion prevention systems

Question 22

Which of the following is a common attack vector utilized for privilege escalation?

Accepted Answer

Buffer overflow

Answer

Cross-site scripting

Answer

Phishing

Answer

SQL injection

Question 23

Which of the following is a technique that exploits a race condition vulnerability?

Accepted Answer

Time-of-check, time-of-use

Answer

Input validation

Answer

Format string attack

Answer

Buffer overflow

Question 24

Which of the following is a significant security threat to operating systems?

Accepted Answer

Malware

Answer

Natural disasters

Answer

Power outages

Answer

Hardware failure