Cyber Security Interview Questions

Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of Cryptography?

To enhance the speed of data transfer

To protect data from unauthorized access (correct)

To encrypt data for backing it up

To simplify communication between users

What does the CIA triad stand for in cybersecurity?

Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability (correct)

Confidentiality, Integrity, and Assurance

Confidentiality, Integration, and Accountability

Control, Integrity, and Authentication

What is the main function of an Intrusion Detection System (IDS)?

To only detect intrusions without taking action (correct)

To actively block malicious traffic

To create a firewall around the network

To log intrusions for future reference

Which of the following best describes Asymmetric encryption?

It requires two different keys for encryption and decryption. Signup and view all the answers

In cybersecurity, what does the term 'availability' in the CIA triad refer to?

Information must be accessible when needed. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) and an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)?

IPS detects and prevents intrusions; IDS only detects them. Signup and view all the answers

Why is certification important in Cybersecurity?

It validates expertise and knowledge in the field. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true regarding Symmetric encryption?

It is generally faster compared to Asymmetric encryption. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of data integrity in cybersecurity?

To prevent unauthorized modification of data Signup and view all the answers

How does encryption differ from hashing?

Encrypted data can be reverted, hashed data cannot be Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of a firewall in network security?

To monitor and control network traffic Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a Vulnerability Assessment from a Penetration Test?

Vulnerability Assessment seeks to find and prioritize flaws Signup and view all the answers

What are the HTTP response codes for successful requests?

2xx Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the three-way handshake in TCP/IP networking?

To establish a connection between client and server Signup and view all the answers

What does a traceroute tool primarily help identify?

The path a packet travels through the network Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between HIDS and NIDS in cybersecurity?

HIDS analyzes host activity, NIDS analyzes network traffic Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Cybersecurity Overview

Cyber Security remains resilient amid IT recessions, with strong demand for skilled professionals.
Competition is high, necessitating excellence to secure job positions.
Skill proficiency and interview performance are both crucial for success in Cybersecurity roles.

Interview Preparation Structure

The interview preparation is categorized into five parts:
- Theoretical Cybersecurity Interview Questions
- Scenario-Based Cybersecurity Interview Questions
- Interview Questions for Beginners
- Interview Questions for Intermediates
- Interview Questions for Experienced professionals

Key Theoretical Cybersecurity Questions

Cryptography: Study of techniques securing information and communication to protect data from unauthorized access.
Symmetric vs. Asymmetric Encryption: Key distinction between these encryption methods focuses on key usage in encryption and decryption.
IDS vs. IPS:
- IDS (Intrusion Detection System): Detects intrusions for administrator intervention.
- IPS (Intrusion Prevention System): Detects and automatically acts to prevent intrusions.

CIA Triad

Confidentiality: Ensuring information is accessible only to authorized individuals and is protected through encryption.
Integrity: Ensuring data remains unaltered and accurate, with restitution measures for unauthorized changes.
Availability: Data must be retrievable and operational at all times, supported by proper maintenance and backup strategies.

Encryption and Hashing

Encryption: Transforms readable data into unintelligible formats with the ability to revert through decryption.
Hashing: Converts data into a fixed-size string of characters; cannot be reversed to original data.

Firewalls

Definition: A network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic.
Purpose: Protects against malicious entities like viruses and malware and manages remote access and content filtering.

Vulnerability Assessment vs. Penetration Testing

Vulnerability Assessment (VA): Identifies and prioritizes flaws within a system that are known and acknowledged.
Penetration Testing (PT): Proactively tests the system to discover undisclosed vulnerabilities despite existing security measures.

Networking Concepts

Three-Way Handshake: Essential TCP/IP connection establishment method involving three steps of packet exchange between client and server.
Response Codes in Web Applications:
- 1xx: Informational
- 2xx: Success
- 3xx: Redirection
- 4xx: Client-Side Error
- 5xx: Server-Side Error

Traceroute

Tool used to trace the path of packets across networks, identifying each router the packet passes through.
Commonly utilized to detect connection interruptions or failures.

HIDS vs. NIDS

HIDS (Host Intrusion Detection System): Monitors individual host systems for malicious activities.
NIDS (Network Intrusion Detection System): Monitors network traffic for suspicious activities across the network.

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Description

Prepare for your Cyber Security job interviews with our compilation of top interview questions and answers. With the increasing demand and competition in the IT sector, mastering these questions could be key to securing a position in the field. Skills and certifications are essential, but knowing how to present them effectively in an interview is crucial.