Ethical Hacking Overview: Definition and Scope

Question 1

What is the primary benefit of ethical hacking for an organization?

Accepted Answer

Identifying and fixing vulnerabilities before they are exploited

Answer

Ensuring compliance with industry regulations

Answer

Reducing operational costs

Answer

Improving user experience of IT systems

Question 2

Which ethical principles must ethical hackers follow?

Accepted Answer

Maintain confidentiality of information

Accepted Answer

Protect the integrity of systems and data

Accepted Answer

Comply with applicable laws and regulations

Answer

Intentionally cause damage or harm to systems or data

Question 3

In the United States, which legal framework primarily governs ethical hacking practices?

Accepted Answer

Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA)

Answer

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Answer

Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX)

Question 4

Ethical hackers primarily aim to:

Accepted Answer

Identify and fix security weaknesses.

Answer

Gain unauthorized access to systems.

Answer

Steal data from organizations.

Answer

Disrupt business operations.

Question 5

Which of the following most accurately defines the primary purpose of ethical hacking?

Accepted Answer

Protecting systems from unauthorized access

Answer

Gaining unauthorized access to systems

Answer

Identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities in systems

Answer

Performing network reconnaissance and information gathering

Question 6

Which characteristic is NOT typically associated with ethical hacking?

Accepted Answer

Destructiveness

Answer

Legality

Answer

Technical expertise

Answer

Vulnerability detection

Question 7

Within an organization, what is the primary responsibility of ethical hackers?

Accepted Answer

Conducting penetration tests and vulnerability assessments

Answer

Designing and implementing cybersecurity infrastructure

Answer

Providing incident response and performing forensic analysis

Answer

Managing cybersecurity operations and risk

Question 8

What is the primary distinction between ethical and malicious hacking?

Accepted Answer

Intent

Answer

Authorization

Answer

Technical skill

Answer

Methodology

Question 9

In ethical hacking, what is the main objective of a vulnerability assessment?

Accepted Answer

Identifying potential system vulnerabilities

Answer

Exploiting vulnerabilities for unauthorized access

Answer

Implementing security measures

Answer

Conducting penetration testing

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT a potential benefit of ethical hacking?

Accepted Answer

Legal accountability for exploiting vulnerabilities

Answer

Enhanced cybersecurity posture

Answer

Increased compliance with regulations

Answer

Increased public trust

Question 11

How does ethical hacking enhance an organization's cybersecurity defense strategy?

Accepted Answer

Identifies and evaluates exploitable vulnerabilities and attack vectors in systems and networks

Answer

Automates cybersecurity configurations and updates

Answer

Develops security patches and software updates

Question 12

In ethical hacking, what is the primary ethical and legal requirement that practitioners must strictly observe?

Accepted Answer

Obtaining explicit written consent from the target before hacking

Answer

Targeting only publicly accessible systems

Answer

Engaging in hacking solely for personal gain

Answer

Limiting activities to exposing vulnerabilities without providing remediation recommendations

Question 13

Ethical hackers must prioritize which principle above all else?

Accepted Answer

Following legal and industry rules

Answer

Targeting high-value systems

Answer

Keeping their identity secret

Question 14

In ethical hacking, what key distinction separates it from unauthorized hacking regarding the scope of their activities?

Accepted Answer

Ethical hacking requires prior authorization.

Answer

Ethical hacking focuses solely on defensive measures.

Answer

Unauthorized hacking is only a federal offense.

Question 15

Identify the primary purpose of ethical hacking:

Accepted Answer

To identify and exploit system vulnerabilities responsibly

Answer

To obtain sensitive information from target systems illicitly

Answer

To disrupt operations and cause harm to organizations

Answer

To gain unauthorized access to computer systems

Question 16

Which ethical principle is paramount for ethical hackers?

Accepted Answer

Respecting property and privacy

Answer

Seeking personal enrichment through exploitation

Answer

Operating outside the authorized scope

Answer

Exploiting vulnerabilities for illicit gain

Question 17

Which tool is commonly employed by ethical hackers for vulnerability assessment?

Accepted Answer

Nessus

Answer

Malwarebytes

Answer

Wireshark

Answer

Burp Suite

Question 18

Describe the role of penetration testing in ethical hacking:

Accepted Answer

Simulating real-world attacks to uncover vulnerabilities

Answer

Collecting evidence of unauthorized access or data breaches

Answer

Developing and implementing security measures

Answer

Training cybersecurity professionals

Question 19

Which certification demonstrates proficiency in ethical hacking?

Accepted Answer

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

Answer

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Answer

Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

Answer

Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional (CSSLP)

Question 20

In ethical hacking, what ethical dilemma arises when considering 'hacking back'?

Accepted Answer

Responding to a cyberattack with a counter-attack

Answer

Using illegal methods to gather attacker information

Answer

Breaching a system to expose its vulnerabilities

Answer

Reporting vulnerabilities to responsible parties

Question 21

What is an ethical hacker's responsibility when reporting vulnerabilities?

Accepted Answer

Providing clear and detailed information about the vulnerability

Answer

Exploiting the vulnerability for personal gain

Answer

Keeping the vulnerability secret to prevent misuse

Answer

Publicly disclosing the vulnerability without notifying the affected organization

Question 22

What is the primary purpose of ethical hacking?

Accepted Answer

Identifying and mitigating cybersecurity vulnerabilities

Answer

Stealing sensitive data

Answer

Gaining unauthorized access to computer systems

Question 23

Which organization typically engages in ethical hacking?

Accepted Answer

Cybersecurity firms and penetration testing companies

Answer

Law enforcement agencies

Answer

Government intelligence agencies

Question 24

What is the difference between ethical and unethical hacking?

Accepted Answer

Authorization, consent, and adherence to ethical guidelines

Answer

Target systems and infrastructure

Answer

Technical skills and expertise

Question 25

What is the main goal of ethical hacking?

Accepted Answer

To enhance the security and resilience of organizations and systems

Answer

To catch and prosecute cybercriminals

Answer

To promote innovation and technological advancements

Question 26

What is the scope of ethical hacking limited to?

Accepted Answer

Authorized targets and predefined rules of engagement

Answer

Only government-owned infrastructure

Answer

Any computer system without restriction

Question 27

Which of the following is NOT a guideline for ethical hacking?

Accepted Answer

Using malicious software or hacking tools

Answer

Protecting the privacy and confidentiality of data

Answer

Obtaining informed consent before testing

Answer

Documenting the findings and reporting results

Question 28

What characteristic defines a qualified ethical hacker?

Accepted Answer

Expertise in cybersecurity, ethical principles, and hacking techniques

Answer

Highly specialized in a single area of cybersecurity

Answer

Licensed by a government agency

Question 29

What is the primary benefit of ethical hacking?

Accepted Answer

Proactive identification and remediation of cybersecurity risks

Answer

Detecting and punishing cybercriminals

Answer

Improving the efficiency of network infrastructure