CompTIA Security+ Question L-45

An organization’s security policy states that users must authenticate using something you do. Which of the following would meet the objectives of the security policy?

A. Fingerprint analysis
B. Signature analysis
C. Swipe a badge
D. Password

Answer: B

Explanation:
Authentication systems or methods are based on one or more of these five factors: Something you know, such as a password or PIN Something you have, such as a smart card, token, or identification device Something you are, such as your fingerprints or retinal pattern (often called biometrics) Something you do, such as an action you must take to complete authentication Somewhere you are (this is based on geolocation)

Writing your signature on a document is ‘something you do’. Someone can then analyze the signature to see if it matches one stored on record.

CompTIA Security+ Question L-39

Which of the following types of authentication solutions use tickets to provide access to various resources from a central location?

A. Biometrics
B. PKI
C. ACLs
D. Kerberos

Answer: D

Explanation:
The basic process of Kerberos authentication is as follows: The subject provides logon credentials. The Kerberos client system encrypts the password and transmits the protected credentials to the KDC. The KDC verifies the credentials and then creates a ticket-granting ticket (TGT—a hashed form of the subject’s password with the addition of a time stamp that indicates a valid lifetime). The TGT is encrypted and sent to the client. The client receives the TGT. At this point, the subject is an authenticated principle in the Kerberos realm. The subject requests access to resources on a network server. This causes the client to request a service ticket (ST) from the KDC. The KDC verifies that the client has a valid TGT and then issues an ST to the client. The ST includes a time stamp that indicates its valid lifetime. The client receives the ST. The client sends the ST to the network server that hosts the desired resource. The network server verifies the ST. If it’s verified, it initiates a communication session with the client. From this point forward, Kerberos is no longer involved.

CompTIA Security+ Question K-68

A Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) wants to implement two-factor authentication within the company. Which of the following would fulfill the CISO’s requirements?

A. Username and password
B. Retina scan and fingerprint scan
C. USB token and PIN
D. Proximity badge and token

Answer: C

Explanation:
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a method of computer access control which a user can pass by successfully presenting authentication factors from at least two of the three categories: knowledge factors (“things only the user knows”), such as passwords possession factors (“things only the user has”), such as ATM cards inherence factors (“things only the user is”), such as biometrics

In this question, a USB token is a possession factor (something the user has) and a PIN is a knowledge factor (something the user knows).

CompTIA Security+ Question J-21

A network administrator has a separate user account with rights to the domain administrator group. However, they cannot remember the password to this account and are not able to login to the server when needed. Which of the following is MOST accurate in describing the type of issue the administrator is experiencing?

A. Single sign-on
B. Authorization
C. Access control
D. Authentication

Answer: D

Explanation:
Authentication generally requires one or more of the following: Something you know: a password, code, PIN, combination, or secret phrase. Something you have: a smart card, token device, or key. Something you are: a fingerprint, a retina scan, or voice recognition; often referred to as biometrics, discussed later in this chapter. Somewhere you are: a physical or logical location. Something you do: typing rhythm, a secret handshake, or a private knock.

CompTIA Security+ Question I-66

A user has forgotten their account password. Which of the following is the BEST recovery strategy?

A. Upgrade the authentication system to use biometrics instead.
B. Temporarily disable password complexity requirements.
C. Set a temporary password that expires upon first use.
D. Retrieve the user password from the credentials database.

Answer: C

Explanation:
Since a user’s password isn’t stored on most operating systems (only a hash value is kept), most operating systems allow the administrator to change the value for a user who has forgotten theirs. This new value allows the user to log in and then immediately change it to another value that they can (ideally) remember. Also setting a temporary password to expire upon first use will not allow a hacker the opportunity or time to use it.

CompTIA Security+ Question I-33

A company requires that a user’s credentials include providing something they know and something they are in order to gain access to the network. Which of the following types of authentication is being described?

A. Biometrics
B. Kerberos
C. Token
D. Two-factor

Answer: D

Explanation:
Two-factor authentication is when two different authentication factors are provided for authentication purposes. In this case, “something they know and something they are”.

CompTIA Security+ Question I-13

Which of the following protocols provides for mutual authentication of the client and server?

A. Two-factor authentication
B. Radius
C. Secure LDAP
D. Biometrics

Answer: C

Explanation:
C: The LDAP directory service is based on a client-server model. The function of LDAP is to enable access to an existing directory. Because it is a client-server model it makes provision for mutual authentication between the two parties.

CompTIA Security+ Question H-56

Which of the following is a measure of biometrics performance which rates the ability of a system to correctly authenticate an authorized user?

A. Failure to capture
B. Type II
C. Mean time to register
D. Template capacity

Answer: B

Explanation:
Type II, or false acceptance rate (FAR), is the measure of the likelihood that the biometric security system will incorrectly accept an access attempt by an unauthorized user.

CompTIA Security+ Question H-49

A security administrator is tackling issues related to authenticating users at a remote site. There have been a large number of security incidents that resulted from either tailgating or impersonation of authorized users with valid credentials. The security administrator has been told to implement multifactor authentication in order to control facility access. To secure access to the remote facility, which of the following could be implemented without increasing the amount of space required at the entrance?

A. MOTD challenge and PIN pad
B. Retina scanner and fingerprint reader
C. Voice recognition and one-time PIN token
D. One-time PIN token and proximity reader

Answer: C

Explanation:
Authentication systems or methods are based on one or more of these five factors: Something you know, such as a password or PIN Something you have, such as a smart card, token, or identification device Something you are, such as your fingerprints or retinal pattern (often called biometrics) Something you do, such as an action you must take to complete authentication Somewhere you are (this is based on geolocation)

Multifactor authentication is authentication that uses two of more of the authentication factors listed above.

In this question, we can use voice recognition (something you are) and a one-time PIN token (something you have) to provide two factors of authentication. The one-time PIN token is a small device that generates a one-time PIN to enable access.