CompTIA IT Fundamentals (FCO-U61) # 1 Flashcards
Jane needs to share a large amount of data with her team, who all work in the same office building. Which local network storage type would be more suitable for her?
NAS.
Overall explanation
NAS Network-attached storage (NAS) devices provide dedicated, shared storage over a network, making it ideal for sharing files among a team in the same office. Flash drives, although portable and reusable, wouldn’t facilitate easy sharing among teams without physically passing the drive around, making them less suitable for Jane’s scenario. Solid state drives (SSDs) provide fast data access but aren’t directly shareable like network storage solutions. A Hard Disk Drive (HDD) provides storage, but isn’t as easily shareable between multiple users without additional networking technology.
Which of the following types of RAM architecture allows for larger memory addressing and better performance?
64-bit RAM
(Overall explanation
64-bit RAM refers to a memory architecture that can address significantly larger amounts of memory compared to 32-bit RAM. It allows for better performance and supports larger memory capacities. 32-bit RAM refers to a memory architecture that can address up to 4 GB of memory. It has limitations in terms of memory addressing and may not support larger memory sizes. GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) RAM refers to the dedicated memory used by the graphics card for storing graphics data. It is specific to the graphics processing and not the main system RAM. SSD (Solid State Drive) is a type of storage device that uses non-volatile memory for data storage. It is not directly related to RAM architecture.
Which of the following is designed to efficiently handle multiple concurrent users?
Databases
( Overall explanation
Databases are designed to handle multiple concurrent users. They have mechanisms in place (like locking and transaction control) to handle simultaneous access and modification of data, ensuring data consistency and integrity. Flat files do not have in-built support for managing multiple concurrent users. They lack the advanced features of databases, such as record locking, which can lead to problems with data consistency and integrity when accessed by multiple users simultaneously. While both databases and flat files can be accessed by multiple users, only databases have mechanisms to handle simultaneous access and modification efficiently and safely. Databases do have robust mechanisms for dealing with multiple concurrent users, ensuring that multiple users can access and modify the data efficiently without compromising data integrity.
Which of the following methods of authentication involves something that the user has?
(Hardware Token)
( Overall explanation
Hardware tokens are physical devices used for authentication. They fall under the category of something the user possesses. Security questions are a type of knowledge-based authentication. They are categorized as something the user knows, not something the user possesses. A PIN (Personal Identification Number) is a knowledge factor used for authentication. It’s categorized as something the user knows, not something the user possesses. Biometrics involve unique physical or behavioral attributes of a user, they are categorized as something the user is, not something the user possesses.
Jacob is setting up a network for his company. He is comparing various internet service providers and their offers. In the context of network throughput, which unit should he consider for evaluating their data transfer rates?
Megabits per second (Mbps)
( Overall
explanation
Network throughput, or the rate at which data is transferred, is often measured in Mbps or Gbps (Gigabits per second). The higher the Mbps, the faster the data transfer rate. GDDR is a type of memory used in graphic cards, not a unit of data transfer. Watts measure power, not data transfer. Ampere is a unit of electric current, not data transfer.)
What is the purpose of password history requirements?
(To prevent users from reusing old passwords)
( Overall explanation
Password history requirements are implemented to prevent users from reusing previously used passwords. This helps enhance security by ensuring that users choose new and unique passwords when changing their passwords. Enforcing a maximum number of failed login attempts is typically part of account lockout policies and is not directly tied to password history. Reminding users to change their passwords regularly is typically part of password expiration policies, not password history requirements. Tracking and monitoring user login activities is not the primary purpose of password history requirements. While monitoring user login activities may be important for security purposes, password history requirements specifically focus on preventing password reuse.
What are folders/directories primarily used for?
(Organizing files within a system)
Overall explanation
The principal function of folders/directories is to create an organized structure within a file system for easy navigation and management, hence the correct answer. While permissions can be assigned to directories, their primary purpose is not to set file permissions, but rather to provide an organizational structure within a file system. Folders don’t primarily serve to encrypt files. Even though certain systems allow entire directories to be encrypted, this is not the fundamental role of a directory. Folders/directories do not modify file extensions. File extensions are defined when a file is created and can be changed or managed independently of their location in directories.
Which of the following external factors can cause an unplanned and temporary disruption of service specifically due to a loss of infrastructure?
(Destruction)
Overall explanation
Destruction caused by external factors like natural disasters, fires, or physical damage can lead to an unplanned and temporary disruption of service specifically due to a loss of infrastructure. When the infrastructure is destroyed or severely damaged, it directly impacts the availability of systems and services. A power outage specifically due to a loss of electrical power supply can cause an unplanned and temporary disruption of service. A power outage, whether caused by severe weather conditions, utility failures, or other external factors, directly affects the infrastructure and can result in the loss of availability of systems and services. A service outage, which refers to the unavailability or disruption of a specific service, can be caused by various factors, including both internal and external causes. While external factors like network disruptions or infrastructure issues can contribute to service outages, they may not be directly tied to a loss of infrastructure as required by the specific context of the question. While denial of service (DoS) attacks can cause a disruption of service, they are typically intentional actions initiated by an attacker rather than a loss of infrastructure. DoS attacks overwhelm systems with excessive traffic or requests, rendering them unavailable, but they are not caused by a loss of infrastructure.
Sarah is a computer technician at a large office. She is tasked with setting up and configuring several network printers and scanners for the newly established marketing department. Sarah needs to ensure that the IP addresses for each device are correctly assigned to enable network communication. What type of peripherals typically require manual configuration of IP addresses for network connectivity?
(IP-based peripherals)
Overall explanation
IP-based peripherals, such as network printers, IP cameras, or network storage devices, typically require manual configuration of IP addresses for network connectivity. These devices rely on IP (Internet Protocol) addresses to communicate over a network. During setup, you need to assign a specific IP address to the peripheral device, ensuring that it is unique and compatible with the network infrastructure. This manual configuration allows the device to establish communication and connect to the network. Driver installation is the process of installing the necessary software (drivers) to enable proper communication between the peripheral device and the computer’s operating system. It does not directly involve IP address configuration. Plug-and-play peripherals are designed to be automatically recognized and configured by the computer without the need for manual IP address configuration. These devices are typically connected to the computer via a USB or Thunderbolt port and rely on the operating system’s automatic network configuration capabilities. Web-based configuration refers to the setup and configuration of network devices through a web-based user interface. This may involve accessing the device’s settings using a web browser and configuring various parameters, but it is not specifically related to IP address configuration.
Which of the following BEST describes one of the main purposes of a database?
(To provide structured storage of data)
Overall explanation
A key purpose of a database is to provide structured storage of data. This allows for efficient and organized data retrieval, modification, and storage. Databases are not usually involved in creating animations for video games. Instead, game developers use specialized software for this task. Databases are not typically used to design website interfaces. This is generally the role of UI/UX design tools and front-end programming languages. While databases can store information used in documents, they are not typically used to automate document creation. This task typically falls under document automation software.
You are given an array arr = [12, 7, 15, 21, 27] in a programming language. You wish to access the third element of this array using zero-based indexing. Which of the following sorts of access will provide you the desired result?
Your answer is correct
arr[2]
Overall explanation
In zero-based indexing, the first element of the array is at index 0, second element is at index 1, and so forth. Therefore, the third element is at index 2. arr[0] accesses the first element of the array in zero-based indexing, not the third. arr[1] will access the second element of the array in zero-based indexing, not the third. arr[3] will access the fourth element of the array in zero-based indexing, not the third.
Which licensing model would you likely encounter when subscribing to a Software as a Service (SaaS) product?
(Subscription)
Overall explanation
In a subscription model, users pay a recurring fee to access the software, often on a monthly or yearly basis. This payment structure is typically characteristic of SaaS offerings, where the software is hosted remotely. A group use or site license enables use of the software for multiple users within a specified location, but doesn’t inherently align with recurring fees, as required in a subscription-based model. Thus, while it could sometimes apply to SaaS products, it doesn’t by definition. Under a one-time purchase model, users pay a flat fee for permanent access to the software. While this may be applicable to some software applications, it is less common for SaaS products which require regular updates and ongoing support. Open source licenses allow users to freely use, modify, or distribute the software. This is not typically characteristic of SaaS products, which more commonly operate on a subscription model.
In the context of object-oriented programming, what is a property of an object?
(A property is a characteristic or attribute of an object, used to hold data)
Overall explanation
In object-oriented programming, properties (also known as attributes) are used to hold information or data for an object. They represent the object’s state. Actions or functions that an object can perform are referred to as methods, not properties. The relationship between two or more objects isn’t considered a property. This concept is more related to ideas like association, aggregation, and inheritance. A contract between an object and its subclasses is more related to concepts like interfaces or abstract classes, not properties.
Which of the following software types is tailored to meet a company’s unique requirements and help streamline its operations?
(Business-specific applications)
Overall explanation
Business-specific applications are typically bespoke, designed specifically for a company’s needs, enabling them to streamline their unique operations. Customer relationship management (CRM) software helps businesses manage their customer interactions. It can be used to track customer leads, sales opportunities, and customer support tickets. While useful for business interactions, conferencing software doesn’t deliver customization unique to each company’s operational needs. Email clients are predominantly for sending, receiving, and organizing emails. They do not typically provide business-specific functionalities designed for any unique operational needs a company may have. Instant messaging software is largely for communication in real-time—rapidly and efficiently—but it doesn’t focus on unique operational needs of a company.
How do document databases differ from traditional relational databases?
(Document databases store data in a semi-structured format allowing for flexibility in data structure)
Overall explanation
Document databases, unlike traditional relational databases, are designed to store, retrieve, and manage document-oriented information, often in a semi-structured format like JSON. This design allows for more flexibility in data structure. Contrary to this, document databases can model relationships, albeit differently from relational databases, such as through nesting data within a single document. While the name might suggest it, document databases do not exclusively store text documents. They use a document-oriented model to manage more varied data types. Speed depends on various factors, not just the type of database. For certain types of data and queries, document databases can even be faster.
Kris is a software engineer tasked with developing a new feature for an application. Which of the following strategies would be the MOST effective for Kris in ensuring the best solution?
(Considering multiple approaches and choosing the one that best fits the requirements)
Overall explanation
Considering multiple approaches and choosing the one that best fits the requirements allows Kris to evaluate different solutions and choose the one that best meets the needs of the application and the team. While collaboration can be helpful, waiting for someone else to suggest a solution can delay progress and does not guarantee the best approach. While the first solution might work, it may not be the most efficient or effective. Considering multiple approaches can lead to a better solution. Even if ignoring other potential solutions once he has found one that works, there might be another approach that is more efficient, easier to maintain, or more scalable.
In which of the following scenarios would a database manager need to use the CREATE command?
(When they need to add a new table to the database)
Overall explanation
The CREATE command is used to create a new table or a whole new database. The SELECT command, not the CREATE command, is used to retrieve specific data from a database. The ALTER command, not the CREATE command, is used to modify the structure of an existing table. The DROP command, not the CREATE command, is used to remove a table or a whole database.
Susan is developing a program where the user must input a discount rate as a decimal number to calculate the final price of a product. However, Susan notices that whenever a user inputs a value like 0.15, the program is throwing an error. Which of the following is the MOST likely error?
(The program field was designed to accept an integer, not a float)
Overall explanation
If the programmer designed the program to accept integers only in the specific field for the discount rate, this will cause an error whenever a float number (like 0.15) is inputted. Integer fields will not successfully store float values because of the decimal point. Most programming languages are absolutely capable of recognizing and working with decimal numbers in the form of float values. They are an essential data type, and their use in calculations is very common. While it’s true that user input is often initially received as a string type in many programming languages, good programming practice involves converting this input to the needed data type. In Susan’s case, an error from having a string where a float or integer is expected should only occur if this conversion step is overlooked. However, it wouldn’t specifically cause trouble with inputting float values, but rather any numeric input. There’s no reason that a program should be specifically limited to only accept negative numbers unless it has been explicitly programmed to do so. In general, number fields in programs should be able to accept both positive and negative values unless specified otherwise.
Which of the following fundamental data types is used to represent a sequence of characters or text in a programming context?
(Strings)
Overall explanation
Strings are sequences of characters used to represent text in programming. They are comprised of individual characters but specifically designed to represent and manipulate the collection of those characters to form meaningful text. Numbers represent various types of numeric values in programming, such as integers (whole numbers) and floating-point numbers (real numbers). They are designed for storing and processing numeric data, not sequences of characters or text. Char represents individual characters, including letters, digits, or special symbols, in a programming context. It is designed for single characters, not sequences of characters or text. Booleans represent truth values, typically true or false, in programming. They are not used for representing sequences of characters or text.
In the context of object-oriented programming (OOP), how are functions typically associated with objects?
(Functions, renamed as methods, represent behaviors of objects)
Overall explanation
In OOP, functions are typically called methods and are tied to objects. They define what actions can be performed on or by these objects. In OOP, methods (functions in OOP) are usually declared inside the object, allowing them to directly access and manipulate the object’s data. An object can have multiple methods associated with it, allowing it to perform a variety of actions. Functions, known as methods in an object-oriented context, play a crucial role in OOP. They define the behaviors of objects.
Two routers are installed in a house and both are using default settings. What could represent a security risk?
(Both routers are using the default SSID and password)
Overall explanation
This is a significant security risk as attackers can easily find default credentials online, allowing unauthorized access. Supporting 802.11ac does not inherently pose a security risk. In fact, using the latest standard usually provides improved performance and security. Using different channels can help avoid interference, it’s a good practice and doesn’t pose a security risk. The location of a router can influence signal strength and coverage, but it doesn’t constitute an inherent security risk, except if the network is open or using weak encryption.
What is the primary difference between plain text and cipher text?
(Plain text is readable and understandable, while cipher text is encrypted.)
Overall explanation
Plain text refers to unencrypted and readable text, while cipher text refers to text that has been encrypted to make it unreadable without the decryption key. The difference between plain text and cipher text is related to encryption, not compression. Plain text and cipher text can both be compressed or uncompressed, depending on other factors. Both plain text and cipher text can be transmitted over a network or stored locally. The primary difference lies in whether the text is encrypted (cipher text) or not (plain text) Plain text is not encrypted, but rather it is the original readable text. Cipher text is the result of encrypting plain text
Lisa is continually pestered by unwanted ads while browsing. How could she reduce this annoyance?
(Enabling a popup blocker)
Overall explanation
Enabling a popup blocker can reduce or eliminate unwanted ads, as it prevent popups which are commonly used for advertising. Deactivating client-side scripting could reduce certain ads but it also risks making some web pages to function improperly or not at all. Clearing the browser cache can improve performance, but it won’t directly stop unwanted ads from appearing. Adding an invalid certificate to the browser is not related to ad reduction and poses a significant security risk.
What software is specifically meant for managing work projects and tasks within a team?
(Project management software)
Overall explanation
Project management software is designed to aid in planning, scheduling, resource allocation, and change management. It facilitates the process of managing work projects and tasks within teams. While conferencing software is crucial for team meetings and discussions, it is not specifically designed for project and task management. It facilitates real-time communication and collaboration, not project management. Visual diagramming software, while useful for creating process maps or organizational structure, is not specifically designed for managing projects or tasks. An email client allows users to manage and send emails, but it isn’t designed for comprehensive project and task management. It is an essential component of workplace communication, not project management.
Samuel is setting up his computer workstation and wants to connect his computer to an older display device that uses analog signals. Which of the following is MOST used to connect a computer to a display device using analog signals?
(VGA)
VGA (Video Graphics Array) is a type of connector commonly used to connect a computer to a display device, such as a monitor or projector, using analog signals. It is characterized by its distinctive 15-pin configuration and is widely supported by older display devices. HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a digital interface commonly used to connect audio/video sources, such as computers, Blu-ray players, or game consoles, to display devices. It does not use analog signals like VGA. DVI (Digital Visual Interface) is a digital interface commonly used to connect computers and display devices. While DVI supports both analog and digital signals, the analog variant (DVI-A) is less common and is not typically used for connecting to display devices using analog signals. DisplayPort is a digital display interface commonly used to connect computers and display devices. It supports high-resolution video and audio, but it does not use analog signals. DisplayPort is gradually replacing VGA and DVI connections in modern devices.
Which of the following best describes the primary function of encryption in mobile applications?
Securing data stored within the application and during transmission.
Overall explanation
In mobile applications, encryption is mainly used to safeguard sensitive data from unauthorized access. This includes data at rest (stored within the application or device) and data in transit (during transmission over networks). With encryption, the data will remain unreadable to any unauthorized entity without the correct decryption key. While encryption is crucial for security, it doesn’t speed up data transmission. In fact, the process of encrypting and decrypting data can sometimes slightly slow down transmission speeds. Encryption is meant to enhance security, not to reduce the size of the application. The process of encryption and decryption has no significant impact on the overall size of a mobile application. The user interface (UI) design is independent of the data encryption process. While a user-friendly UI is vital for good user experience, it does not have a direct relationship with the encryption of data.
In a high-level programming language, you have a repeating sequence of actions that needs to process different sets of data at various points in your code. Which programming concept is BEST suited to bundle these actions for future reuse and maintain a DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself) approach?
(Creating a function that encapsulates the repeating actions)
Overall explanation
Functions are designed for this kind of task, encapsulating actions and allowing for code reusability and a DRY approach. Arrays are used for holding data, not pieces of code or actions. Variables hold data, not actions. So this approach won’t help to encapsulate the repeating actions. While loops can repeat code, they are less versatile for this task than functions, especially when the repeated actions need to be performed at various points in the code.
What is the main difference between OEM websites vs third-party websites?
(OEM websites provide software directly from the original manufacturer, while third-party websites offer modified versions or unauthorized copies)
Overall explanation
The main difference between OEM websites and third-party websites is that OEM websites are authorized by the original equipment manufacturer to distribute their software. They offer genuine, unaltered versions of the software. On the other hand, third-party websites may provide modified or unauthorized copies of the software, which can pose security risks. OEM websites offer discounted prices and exclusive deals and third-party websites have higher prices, but this isn’t the main difference between the two. OEM websites focus on hardware sales and third-party websites specialize in software distribution but this isn’t the main difference between the two. OEM websites require user registration and verification and third-party websites allow anonymous downloads, but this isn’t the main difference between the two.
In SQL, which statements are used to grant or deny specific rights to user accounts over objects in the database?
Data Control Language (DCL)
Overall explanation
DCL commands in SQL, such as GRANT and DENY, are used to control access rights for user accounts over objects in the database. They allow specific permissions to be granted or denied to users for performing actions on tables, columns, views, and the database itself. Data Query Language (DQL) is not a widely used term in SQL. While queries are an essential part of retrieving data, the term DQL is not commonly used to represent a specific category of commands related to granting or denying access rights. Data Definition Language (DDL) commands, such as CREATE and DROP, are used to define and manage the structure of a database, including creating tables, altering table structures, and defining constraints. DDL commands do not directly deal with granting or denying access rights to user accounts. Data Manipulation Language (DML) commands are used to manipulate data within a database, such as inserting, updating, or querying records. DML commands do not directly involve granting or denying specific rights to user accounts.
Which of these file systems is designed with a limitation to a single user, making it unsuitable for multi-user systems?
(FAT32)
Overall explanation
FAT32 was designed for single-user systems and thus lacks the ability to set permissions on a per-user basis, a necessary feature for multi-user systems. NTFS supports multi-user systems by incorporating file and folder permission settings that allow control over which users can access or modify files. HFS, used predominantly with macOS, supports multi-user systems with its permissions system that can be set on a per-user and per-group basis. Ext4 is designed with Linux in mind, an operating system often used in multi-user environments. Thus, it supports per-user and per-group permissions.