Computer Security Questions and Answers

Answer: A

Correct answer: True

Both are ways of getting a file onto the machine and running it, which is all malware needs. An attachment is simply a file delivered by mail rather than fetched from a site, so the risk is the same in kind.

Answer: A

Correct answer: Lock the computer with a password

Locking the session requires the password to be re-entered before anything can be reached, so it protects the data. A screen saver only hides the screen and turning off the monitor only darkens it - in both cases everything remains open to anyone who touches the keyboard.

Answer: C

Correct answer: A filter for an internet connection that monitors outgoing and incoming activity

A firewall works on connections, allowing or blocking traffic in both directions according to its rules. It is not concerned with the content of files, which is what antivirus software examines, and the name is a metaphor rather than a description.

Answer: C

Correct answer: At least 8 characters, and a combination of letters, numbers and symbols

Strength comes from length and from the size of the character set, which together determine how many possibilities an attacker must try. Mixed case alone gives too small a gain, and a pet's name is in every dictionary an attacker uses, however easy it is to remember.

Answer: B

Correct answer: Scams distributed through email such as phishing, pharming and spam

Social engineering attacks the person rather than the machine: it persuades someone to give up information or to run something, and email is its usual delivery route. A technical attack on a computer is the opposite approach, and a site for people with shared interests is simply a social network.

Answer: B

Correct answer: It is anti-virus software

Trend Micro is a security company whose products detect and remove malware, so it belongs with McAfee, Norton and Avast rather than with the threats they defend against.

Answer: D

Correct answer: Trojan horses

A trojan is defined by its disguise: it presents itself as something useful so the user runs it willingly. A worm needs no such trick, since it propagates by itself, and a keylogger describes a payload rather than a method of getting in.

Answer: B

Correct answer: Macro virus

A macro virus is written in the macro language of an application - Word or Excel - so it travels inside documents and runs when the application opens them. A boot virus infects the boot sector and a file virus an executable.

Answer: C

Correct answer: Command.Com

The Le-Hard virus attaches itself to COMMAND.COM, the DOS command interpreter, which is loaded every time the machine starts and so gives the virus a reliable point of execution.

Answer: B

Correct answer: It is a computer program

A virus is a program like any other; what distinguishes it is what it does - copy itself into other programs and carry a payload. It is not hardware and not a part of the operating system.