Chapter 3 - OS Hardening and Virtualization

Question 1

Virtualization technology is often implemented as operating systems and applications that run in software. Often, it is implemented as a virtual machine. Of the following, which can be a security benefit when using virtualization?
A. Patching a computer will patch all virtual machines running on the computer.
B. If one virtual machine is compromised, none of the other virtual machines can be compromised.
C. If a virtual machine is compromised, the adverse effects can be compartmentalized.
D. Virtual machines cannot be affected by hacking techniques.

Answer 1

C. By using a virtual machine (which is one example of a virtual instance) any ill effects can be compartmentalized to that particular virtual machine, usually without any ill effects to the main operating system on the computer. Patching a computer does not automatically patch virtual machines existing on the computer. Other virtual machines can be compromised, especially if nothing is done about the problem. Finally, virtual machines can definitely be affected by hacking techniques. Be sure to secure them!

Question 2

Eric wants to install an isolated operating system.  What is the best tool to use?
A. Virtualization
B. UAC
C. HIDS
D. NIDS

Answer 2

A. Virtualization enables a person to install operating systems (or applications) in an isolated area of the computer’s hard drive, separate from the computer’s main operating system.

Question 3

Where would you turn off file sharing in Windows Vista?
A. Control Panel
B. Local Area Connection
C. Network and Sharing Center
D. Firewall properties

Answer 3

C. The Network and Sharing Center is where you can disable file sharing in Windows Vista.

Question 4

Which option enables you to hide ntldr?
A. Enable Hide Protected Operating System Files
B. Disable Show Hidden Files and Folders
C. Disable Hide Protected operating system Files
D. Remove the -R Attribute

Answer 4

A. To hide ntldr you need to enable the Hide Protected Operating System Files checkbox. Keep in mind that you should have already enabled the Show Hidden Files and Folders radio button.

Question 5

Which of the following should be implemented to harden an operating system?  (Select the two best answers.)
A. Install the latest service pack.
B. Install Windows Defender.
C. Install a virtual operating system.
D. Execute PHP scripts.

Answer 5

A and B. Two ways to harden an operating system include installing the latest service pack and installing Windows defender. However, virtualization is a separate concept altogether, and PHP scripts will generally not be used to harden an operating system.

Question 6

In Windows 7, Vista, and XP, what is the best file system to use?
A. FAT
B. NTFS
C. DFS
D. FAT32

Answer 6

B. NTFS is the most secure file system for use with Windows 7, Vista, and XP. FAT and FAT32 are older file systems, and DFS is the distributed file system used in more advanced networking.

Question 7

A customer’s computer uses FAT16 as its file system. What file system can you upgrade it to when using the convert command?
A. NTFS
B. HPFS
C. FAT32
D. NFS

Answer 7

A. The Convert command is used to upgrade FAT and FAT32 volumes to the more secure NTFS without loss of data. HPFS is the High Performance File System developed by IBM and not used by Windows. NFS is the Network File System, something you would see in a storage area network.

Question 8

Which of the following is not an advantage of NTFS over FAT32?
A. NTFS supports file encryption.
B. NTFS supports larger file sizes.
C. NTFS supports larger volumes.
D. NTFS supports more file formats.

Answer 8

D. NTFS and FAT32 support the same number of file formats.

Question 9

What is the deadliest risk of a virtual computer?
A. If a virtual computer fails, all other virtual computers immediately go offline.
B. If a virtual computer fails, the physical server goes offline.
C. If the physical server fails, all other physical servers immediately go offline.
D. If the physical server fails, all the virtual computers immediately go offline.

Answer 9

D. The biggest risk of running a virtual computer is that it will go offline immediately if the server that it is housed on fails. All other virtual computers on that particular server will also go offline immediately.

Question 10

Virtualized browsers can protect the OS that they are installed within from which of the following?
A. DDoS attacks against the underlying OS
B. Phishing and spam attacks
C. Man-in-the-middle attacks
D. Malware installation from Internet websites

Answer 10

D. The beauty of a virtualized browser is that regardless of whether a virus or other malware damages it, the underlying operating system will remain unharmed. The virtual browser can be deleted and a new one can be created; or if the old virtual browser was backed up previous to the malware attack, it can be restored.

Question 11

Which of the following needs to be backed up on a domain controller to recover Active Directory?
A. User data
B. System files
C. Operating system
D. System state

Answer 11

D. The system state needs to be backed up on a domain controller to recover the active directory database in the future. The system state includes user data and system files but does not include the entire operating system. If a server fails, the operating system would have to be reinstalled, and then the system
state would need to be restored.

Question 12

Which of the following should you implement to fix a single security issue on the computer?
A. Service pack
B. Support website
C. Patch
D. Baseline

Answer 12

C. A patch can fix a single security issue on a computer. A service pack addresses many issues and rewrites many files on a computer; it may be overkill to use a service pack when only a patch is necessary. You might obtain the patch from a support website. A baseline can measure a server or a network and to obtain averages of usage.

Question 13

An administrator wants to reduce the size of the attack surface of Windows server 2008. Which of the following is the best answer to accomplish this?
A. Update antivirus software.
B. Install service packs.
C. Disable unnecessary services.
D. Install network intrusion detection systems.

Answer 13

C. Often, operating system manufacturers such as Microsoft refer to the attack surface as all the services that run on the operating system. By conducting an analysis of which services are necessary and which are unnecessary, an administrator can find out which ones need to be disabled, thereby reducing the attack
surface. Service packs, antivirus software, and network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) are good tools to use to secure an individual computer and the network but do not help to reduce the size of the attack surface of the operating system.

Question 14

You finished installing the operating system for a home user. What are three good methods to implement to secure that operating system? (Select the three best answers.)
A. Install the latest service pack.
B. Install a hardware- or software-based firewall.
C. Install the latest patches.
D. Install pcAnywhere.

Answer 14

A, B, and C. After installing an operating system, it’s important to install the latest service pack, patches, and a firewall. These three methods can help to secure the operating system. However, pcAnywhere can actually make a computer less secure and should be installed only if the user requests it. pcAnywhere is just one of many examples of remote control software.

Question 15

Which of the following is a security reason to implement virtualization in your
network?
A. To isolate network services and roles
B. To analyze network traffic
C. To add network services at lower costs
D. To centralize patch management

Answer 15

A. Virtualization of computer servers enables a network administrator to isolate the various network services and roles that a server may play. Analyzing network traffic would have to do more with assessing risk and vulnerability and monitoring and auditing. Adding network services at lower costs deals more with budgeting than with virtualization, although, virtualization can be less expensive. Centralizing patch management has to do with hardening the operating systems on the network scale.

Question 16

Which of the following is one example of verifying new software changes on a test system?
A. Application hardening
B. Virtualization
C. Patch management
D. HIDS

Answer 16

C. Patch management is an example of verifying any new changes in software on a test system (or live systems for that matter.) Verifying the changes (testing) is the second step of the standard patch management strategy. Application hardening might include updating systems, patching them, and so on, but to be accurate, this question is looking for that particular second step of patch management. Virtualization is the creating of logical OS images within a working operating system. HIDS stands for host-based intrusion detection system, which attempts to detect malicious activity on a computer.

Question 17

You have been tasked with protecting an operating system from malicious software. What should you do? (Select the two best answers.)
A. Disable the DLP.
B. Update the HIPS signatures.
C. Install a perimeter firewall.
D. Disable unused services.
E. Update the NIDS signatures.

Answer 17

B and D. Updating the host-based intrusion prevention system is important. Without the latest signatures, the HIPS will not be at its best when it comes to protecting against malware. Also, disabling unused services will reduce the attack surface of the OS, which in turn makes it more difficult for attacks to access the system and run malicious code. Disabling the data leakage prevention device would not aid the situation, and it would probably cause data leakage from the computer. Installing a perimeter firewall won’t block malicious software from entering the individual computer. A personal firewall would better reduce the attack surface of the computer, but it is still not meant as an
antimalware tool. Updating the NIDS signatures will help the entire network, but might not help the individual computer. In this question we want to focus in on the individual computer, not the network. In fact, given the scenario of the question, you do not even know if a network exists.