Cybersecurity Authentication Methods

Questions and Answers

Which of the following authentication methods provides access to network resources without sharing user credentials?

Public key infrastructure (PKI)

OAuth (correct)

Windows Authentication (NTLM)

Multi-factor authentication (MFA)

What is the primary purpose of user accounts in network environments?

To determine user access to network resources (correct)

To manage software installations

To authenticate devices on the network

To enhance the performance of network hardware

Which type of user account is automatically created when the operating system or Active Directory is loaded?

Local account

Custom account

Domain account

Built-in account (correct)

What is a key reason for renaming and disabling built-in accounts such as Administrator and Guest?

To enhance security practices Signup and view all the answers

Which command is used to add a new local user in Windows via PowerShell?

'New-LocalUser –Name “username” –Password (ConvertTo-SecureString “Password12345!” –AsPlainText – Force)' Signup and view all the answers

In which scenario would you most likely use Windows Authentication (NTLM)?

In environments relying on domain accounts Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a type of user account mentioned in the content?

Temporary account Signup and view all the answers

What is the main benefit of using groups in user management?

Simplifies permission management for multiple users Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of a Discretionary Access Control List (DACL) in a Windows operating system?

To assign file and directory permissions Signup and view all the answers

Which command in the Windows Command Line is used to change the current directory?

cd Signup and view all the answers

What should you type after a command to determine its proper syntax in the Windows Command Line?

/? or /help Signup and view all the answers

Which feature of NTFS helps in ensuring data integrity in file systems?

File System Journaling Signup and view all the answers

What is an effect of using the 'del' command in the Windows Command Line?

It permanently deletes one or more files Signup and view all the answers

Which Windows Command Line command lists the contents of a directory?

dir Signup and view all the answers

In a Windows file system, what defines the structure in which files are named, stored, and organized?

File System Type Signup and view all the answers

Which command would you use to remove a directory from the Windows Command Line?

rmdir Signup and view all the answers

Which command displays all current TCP/IP network configuration values in the Command Line?

ipconfig Signup and view all the answers

What utility might you use in the command line to clear your terminal screen?

cls Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of device drivers in an operating system?

To enable communication between the OS and hardware. Signup and view all the answers

Which command is used to clear the terminal screen in a command prompt environment?

cls Signup and view all the answers

Which command would you use to copy files from one location to another in Windows Command Line Interface?

copy Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the Get-Process cmdlet in PowerShell?

To display all active processes running on a system. Signup and view all the answers

Which command is used to remove a directory in a command prompt?

rmdir Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of bootmgr during the Windows boot process?

It reads the BCD and starts winload.exe. Signup and view all the answers

Which file is NOT loaded by the Windows OS Loader during the boot process?

smss.exe Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true about the Ntoskrnl.exe during the Kernel Initialization Phase?

It maps ntdll.dll into the address space. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two modes in Windows OS?

Kernel Mode and User Mode Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary responsibility of wininit.exe during the boot process?

It initializes user services and starts explorer.exe. Signup and view all the answers

During what phase is the firmware loaded in the Windows boot process?

Pre-Boot Phase Signup and view all the answers

What is the correct order of operations for smss.exe during the boot process?

Starts smss.exe (1), then winlogon.exe, then exits. Signup and view all the answers

What is NOT a responsibility of the kernel in an operating system?

Performing user-level application tasks. Signup and view all the answers

Which sequence correctly describes the functions of smss.exe (0)?

Starts wininit.exe, then exits, and csrss.exe initializes. Signup and view all the answers

What type of kernel design is characterized by minimal functionality in the kernel space?

Microkernel Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of a driver in a computing system?

It allows the operating system and device to communicate. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of account is NOT primarily considered in user/group management?

Hardware Account Signup and view all the answers

What enables a system to effectively manage many processes concurrently?

Concurrency Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a common type of authentication method?

Public relation strategies Signup and view all the answers

Which is a characteristic of a process baseline?

It establishes standard performance metrics for processes. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of interrupts in computing?

To disrupt the normal flow of execution due to events. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a file system?

To enable the storage and retrieval of data. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the types of user accounts in a Windows environment?

Local, Domain, and Built-in Accounts Signup and view all the answers

Which tool is NOT typically associated with file permissions management?

Windows Registry Editor Signup and view all the answers

What are traps in computer processes?

They handle exceptions and errors. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Security Mechanisms

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) enhances security by requiring multiple verification factors (e.g., password, SMS code, biometrics).
Public key infrastructure (PKI) utilizes digital certificates and private keys for secure communications between entities.
OAuth enables third-party applications to access user resources without sharing sensitive credentials.
Windows Authentication (NTLM) is specific to Windows environments, using domain accounts and challenge-response methods, moving towards Kerberos models.

User Accounts

User accounts are profiles determining network access, existing in the Security Accounts Manager (SAM) or Domain Controller (DC).
Account types include:
- Local accounts: limited to workgroup access, authenticated by SAM.
- Domain accounts: access network resources, authenticated by DC and listed in Active Directory (AD).
- Built-in accounts: automatically generated by OS or AD, including:
  - Standard accounts: typical user access.
  - Administrator accounts: full system access, varying by network scope.
  - Guest accounts: limited, temporary access without network permissions.

User/Group Management

Involves creating, modifying, and deleting user accounts and groups to manage permissions and access.
Management tools include:
- GUI: Control Panel for easy management.
- Command Line Interface (CLI): commands like ‘net user’ and ‘net localgroup’ to manipulate user accounts and groups.
- PowerShell: commands such as ‘New-LocalUser’ for user creation and ‘New-LocalGroup’ for group management.

Windows Command Line

Known as cmd.exe, it provides a text-based interface to execute commands.
Basic command functions include:
- dir: Lists directory contents.
- cd: Changes directories.
- copy: Copies files between locations.
- move: Moves files.
- del: Deletes files.
- mkdir: Creates a new directory.
- ipconfig: Displays network configuration details.
- exit: Closes Command Prompt.

Windows Boot Process

The booting sequence involves loading system firmware and the operating system:
- WinLoad.exe initiates core drivers necessary for the Windows Kernel.
- The kernel initializes hardware and reads registry settings.
User Mode Startup leads to processes like:
- Starting subsystem processes (smss.exe) and services (services.exe), culminating in the display of the Windows login screen.

Kernel Designs

The kernel acts as a mediator between hardware (Hardware Abstraction Layer - HAL) and system resources, critical for process management.
Driver software enables communication between devices and the operating system, acting as translators.
Kernel designs can be monolithic (single large block of code) or microkernel (smaller, more modular components).

File Systems and Permissions

The file system organizes how data is named, stored, and accessed.
Windows uses Discretionary Access Control Lists (DACL) for file permissions, determining user access levels post-authentication.

Concurrency and Interrupts

Concurrency allows a system to manage multiple tasks simultaneously, optimizing CPU resource utilization.
Interrupts are events occurring out of the normal program execution, often due to errors that signal the OS to take action.

PowerShell Commands (PS Demonstration)

Commands include:
- Get-Help: Displays help for cmdlets.
- Get-Process: Retrieves running processes.
- New-Item: Creates new files or directories.
- Copy-Item: Copies items between locations.
- Remove-Item: Deletes specified files or directories.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

This quiz explores various authentication methods such as Multi-factor Authentication (MFA), Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), OAuth, and Windows Authentication (NTLM). Test your knowledge on how these methods enhance security in digital communications and environments.