Practice Free 312-38 Exam Online Questions
How can one identify the baseline for normal traffic?
- A . When the ACK flag appears at the beginning and the RST flag appears at the end of the connection
- B . When the SYN flag appears at the beginning and the FIN flag appears at the end of the connection
- C . When the RST flag appears at the beginning and the ACK flag appears at the end of the connection
- D . When the FIN flag appears at the beginning and the SYN flag appears at the end of the connection
B
Explanation:
In TCP/IP networking, establishing a connection typically starts with a SYN (synchronize) flag and ends with a FIN (finish) flag. This is part of the normal TCP three-way handshake and connection termination process:
SYN (Synchronize): Initiates a connection.
SYN-ACK (Synchronize-Acknowledge): Acknowledges the SYN and responds with a SYN.
ACK (Acknowledge): Acknowledges the SYN-ACK, establishing the connection.
FIN (Finish): Terminates the connection.
Observing a SYN flag at the beginning and a FIN flag at the end of the connection indicates a normal, properly terminated TCP session, establishing a baseline for normal traffic patterns.
Reference: EC-Council Certified Network Defender (CND) Study Guide TCP/IP protocol suite documentation
Simon had all his systems administrators implement hardware and software firewalls to ensure network security. They implemented IDS/IPS systems throughout the network to check for and stop any unauthorized traffic that may attempt to enter. Although Simon and his administrators believed they were secure, a hacker group was able to get into the network and modify files hosted on the company’s website. After searching through the firewall and server logs, no one could find how the attackers were able to get in. He decides that the entire network needs to be monitored for critical and essential file changes. This monitoring tool alerts administrators when a critical file is altered.
What tool could Simon and his administrators implement to accomplish this?
- A . Snort is the best tool for their situation
- B . They can implement Wireshark
- C . They could use Tripwire
- D . They need to use Nessus
C
Explanation:
Simon’s situation requires a tool that can monitor and alert administrators of critical file changes across the network. Tripwire is a File Integrity Monitoring (FIM) tool that serves this exact purpose. It can detect changes to system and configuration files, directories, and registry keys, and it is especially useful for spotting unauthorized changes that could indicate a security breach. Tripwire can help ensure that important files have not been tampered with, which seems to be the concern for Simon’s network following the incident.
Reference: The Certified Network Defender (CND) course material and study guide from EC-Council include discussions on the importance of monitoring critical systems and protecting network integrity. Tripwire is often highlighted in industry resources as a robust FIM tool that aligns with the objectives of maintaining network security and integrity as outlined in the CND curriculum1.
What command is used to terminate certain processes in an Ubuntu system?
- A . #grep Kill [Target Process}
- B . #kill-9[PID]
- C . #ps ax Kill
- D . # netstat Kill [Target Process]
B
Explanation:
In Ubuntu, to terminate a specific process, you would use the kill command followed by the signal you want to send and the Process ID (PID) of the target process. The -9 signal is the SIGKILL signal, which forcefully terminates the process. The correct syntax is kill -9 [PID], where [PID] is replaced with the actual numerical ID of the process you wish to terminate.
Reference: This information is consistent with standard Linux documentation and practices as well as the Certified Network Defender (CND) course material, which covers system administration and security tasks including process management. The kill command is a fundamental tool for process management in Unix-like operating systems, which is covered in the CND curriculum.
Identify the network topology in which the network devices are connected such that every device has a point-to-point link to all the other devices.
- A . Star Topology
- B . Hybrid Topology
- C . Mesh Topology
- D . Bus Topology
C
Explanation:
The network topology where every device is connected to every other device through a point-to-point link is known as Mesh Topology. In this arrangement, devices have a dedicated link to each other, ensuring a unique path for data to travel between any two devices. This setup enhances the reliability of the network, as there are multiple paths for data transfer, and if one link fails, the system can continue to operate using alternative paths. Mesh topology is characterized by its robustness and is commonly used in applications where reliability is critical, such as military communications and internet service provider networks.
Reference: The explanation aligns with the characteristics of Mesh Topology as described in network topology resources, including the detailed descriptions provided by GeeksforGeeks1 and confirmed by other authoritative sources on network topologies23. For the most accurate and detailed reference, it is recommended to consult the official documents and study guides from the Certified Network Defender (CND) course by the EC-Council.
Which antenna’s characteristic refer to the calculation of radiated in a particular direction. It is generally the ratio of radiation intensity in a given direction to the average radiation intensity?
- A . Radiation pattern
- B . Polarization
- C . Directivity
- D . Typical gain
C
Explanation:
Directivity of an antenna refers to the measure of how concentrated the radiation emitted is in a single direction. It is defined as the ratio of the radiation intensity in a given direction from the antenna to the radiation intensity averaged over all directions. In simpler terms, it is the calculation of radiated power in a particular direction compared to the average radiated power in all directions. This characteristic is crucial for antennas designed to transmit or receive signals in a specific direction, making it an essential parameter for many communication systems.
Reference: The concept of directivity and its importance in antenna design is covered in the EC-Council’s Certified Network Defender (CND) course materials, which include discussions on various antenna characteristics and their impact on network security12.
Implementing access control mechanisms, such as a firewall, to protect the network is an example of which of the following network defense approach?
- A . Proactive approach
- B . Retrospective approach
- C . Preventive approach
- D . Reactive approach
C
Explanation:
Implementing access control mechanisms like a firewall is a preventive measure in network defense. The preventive approach focuses on establishing barriers and safeguards to stop security incidents before they occur. Firewalls are a core component of this strategy, as they control incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules, thereby preventing unauthorized access to or from a network.
Reference: The Certified Network Defender (CND) program emphasizes a multi-layered defense strategy, which includes the Protect, Detect, Respond, and Predict framework. Within this framework, the Protect phase aligns with the preventive approach, as it involves the implementation of security measures that aim to prevent threats from compromising the network1. This is further supported by the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, which outlines Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover as the five core functions for a comprehensive cybersecurity approach2.
Which of the following indicators are discovered through an attacker’s intent, their end goal or purpose, and a series of actions that they must take before being able to successfully launch an attack?
- A . Key risk indicators
- B . Indicators of compromise
- C . Indicators of attack
- D . Indicators of exposure
C
Explanation:
Indicators of attack (IoA) provide information about the attacker’s intent, end goals, and the actions they take to execute an attack. IoAs help identify the methods and behaviors an attacker uses during the attack lifecycle. Unlike Indicators of Compromise (IoCs), which are used to detect evidence of a breach, IoAs are proactive and help in identifying and preventing potential attacks before they occur by analyzing the patterns and tactics used by attackers.
Key risk indicators: Metrics used to signal increased risk exposure.
Indicators of compromise: Artifacts observed on a network or in an operating system that with high confidence indicate a computer intrusion.
Indicators of exposure: Data points or signals that reveal vulnerabilities or weaknesses that could be
exploited.
Reference: EC-Council Certified Network Defender (CND) Study Guide Cybersecurity frameworks and documentation on threat detection
Phishing-like attempts that present users a fake usage bill of the cloud provider is an example of a:
- A . Cloud to service attack surface
- B . User to service attack surface
- C . User to cloud attack surface
- D . Cloud to user attack surface
C
Explanation:
Phishing attempts that target users with fake usage bills from a cloud provider are examples of a cloud to user attack surface. This type of attack surface refers to the potential vulnerabilities and entry points that exist between the cloud service provider and the user. In this scenario, the attacker is exploiting the trust relationship between the user and the cloud service provider by presenting a fraudulent bill, hoping the user will reveal sensitive information or make a payment based on the fake bill.
Reference: The explanation is consistent with the Certified Network Defender (CND) curriculum, which includes understanding various attack surfaces, including cloud and user-related surfaces, and how they can be exploited through phishing and other social engineering attacks12.
You are an IT security consultant working on a contract for a large manufacturing company to audit their entire network. After performing all the tests and building your report, you present a number of recommendations to the company and what they should implement to become more secure. One recommendation is to install a network-based device that notifies IT employees whenever malicious or questionable traffic is found. From your talks with the company, you know that they do not want a device that actually drops traffic completely, they only want notification.
What type of device are you suggesting?
- A . The best solution to cover the needs of this company would be a HIDS device.
- B . A NIDS device would work best for the company
- C . You are suggesting a NIPS device
- D . A HIPS device would best suite this company
B
Explanation:
The device suggested is a Network Intrusion Detection System (NIDS). A NIDS monitors network traffic for suspicious activity and alerts the system or network administrator. Unlike a Network Intrusion Prevention System (NIPS), which actively blocks traffic deemed malicious, a NIDS does not interfere with the flow of traffic, thus fulfilling the company’s requirement for a device that only notifies rather than drops traffic.
Reference: The information aligns with the Certified Network Defender (CND) course’s focus on network security, which includes understanding and implementing devices that protect, detect, respond, and predict network security incidents. The CND course emphasizes the importance of network traffic monitoring and analysis, which is a key function of a NIDS12.
You are an IT security consultant working on a contract for a large manufacturing company to audit their entire network. After performing all the tests and building your report, you present a number of recommendations to the company and what they should implement to become more secure. One recommendation is to install a network-based device that notifies IT employees whenever malicious or questionable traffic is found. From your talks with the company, you know that they do not want a device that actually drops traffic completely, they only want notification.
What type of device are you suggesting?
- A . The best solution to cover the needs of this company would be a HIDS device.
- B . A NIDS device would work best for the company
- C . You are suggesting a NIPS device
- D . A HIPS device would best suite this company
B
Explanation:
The device suggested is a Network Intrusion Detection System (NIDS). A NIDS monitors network traffic for suspicious activity and alerts the system or network administrator. Unlike a Network Intrusion Prevention System (NIPS), which actively blocks traffic deemed malicious, a NIDS does not interfere with the flow of traffic, thus fulfilling the company’s requirement for a device that only notifies rather than drops traffic.
Reference: The information aligns with the Certified Network Defender (CND) course’s focus on network security, which includes understanding and implementing devices that protect, detect, respond, and predict network security incidents. The CND course emphasizes the importance of network traffic monitoring and analysis, which is a key function of a NIDS12.