ITF+ study guide

What is a CLI?

A Command Line Interface allows the user to interact with the OS using typed commands or scripts rather than a GUI.

What type of address identifies a network interface in the context of the local network segment only?

A Media Access Control (MAC) address.

What is a WAN?

A Wide Area Network (WAN) connects sites in different geographic locations. WANs usually make use of telecommunications and service provider networks rather than being directly operated by the network administrators.

You want to check whether a condition has been met, and if it has, perform one action. Otherwise, you want your program to perform a second action. What sort of programming operation would help achieve this?

A conditional branch, such as an If...Then statement.

What type of file in an OS is the main means of providing coordination of hardware components?

A driver (or device driver).

What is a zip file?

A file archive containing other files in a compressed format.

In a program, what does a loop do?

A loop performs one or more instructions until (or while) a condition is met.

What is the difference between a procedure and a function?

A procedure does something while a function does something and then returns a value to the main program.

If you do not have a support contract, what is likely to be the best option for obtaining advice about a problem with an application?

A product support or community forum.

What is "airplane mode?"

A quick toggle for disabling all wireless functionality (cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth).

What type of device is used to transfer packets between different networks?

A router.

What device is used to connect computers together in an Ethernet network?

A switch.

What type of computer is best suited for using in a job where you have to make notes and be able to move around easily?

A tablet or smartphone or possibly a hybrid laptop/tablet. Notetaking is supported by a touchscreen-based device.

What type of programming concept allows for a variable size container?

A vector is a variable size container while an array is a fixed size one.

What is the main difference between virus and worm malware?

A virus has to infect a file whereas a worm propagates in memory and over computer networks.

What is a typical speed for a modern CPU to run at?

Around 2 GHz; budget models might run as low as 1 GHz while the fastest run up to about 3 GHz.

What does attenuation mean?

Attenuation describes the loss of strength of a signal the farther it has to travel. Attenuation sets the distance limitations on different network media types.

What does AAA stand for?

Authentication, Authorization, Accounting.

How might someone masquerade as someone else when using email or Instant Messaging?

By accessing their user account—this could be done by stealing their login information, using an unattended computer that was still logged in, or using malware such as a Trojan.

How could you access a network folder called DATA on a network server called TOWER1 using the Explorer address bar?

By entering the UNC path: \\TOWER1\DATA

How might malware hosted on a website be able to infect your computer simply by your browsing the site?

By exploiting a vulnerability in software installed on your computer (a fault or "exploit" in the browser, a browser plug-in, or the OS for instance).

What are the structural elements of a database table?

Each table stores information about records (rows in the table) in fields (columns in the tables).

Which email protocol(s) are used to download messages from a mail server?

Either Post Office Protocol (POP) or Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP).

If you use an open network, what email configuration setting should you ensure is enabled?

Enable Secure Sockets Layer/Transport Layer Security (SSL/TLS) encryption to protect the account password.

What factors should you consider when positioning input and output devices?

Ensure that they can be used without exerting strain, especially on the arms/wrists and back/neck. Ensure that cabling is not a trip hazard. Avoid locations that cause excessive screen glare.

How does an RDBMS such as Microsoft SQL Server differ from Microsoft Excel when used to store a dataset?

Excel is an example of a flat file system. These do not scale well, and usually support a single user only. RDBMS platforms enable many hundreds or thousands of users to connect concurrently, and can support very large datasets. Also, an RDBMS can enforce data types for each column and validate information entered as fields and records.

You are configuring dual monitors positioned side-by-side. You want to increase the amount of screen space available. Which multiple display option should you set?

Extend the displays.

What sort of device could you use to expand the storage capacity of a smartphone?

Flash memory card.

Your computer has 4 SATA ports. How many hard drives can be installed?

Four—each SATA port can be used to connect one drive.

What view options could you use to show files of a particular type sorted by date?

Group the files by file type then sort by date

What is the file path to the Documents folder for a user named "David," assuming Windows is installed to a hard disk with a single partition using the default settings?

C:\Users\David\Documents

What is the difference between the char and string data types?

Char stores a single textual character in a fixed length field (typically 1 byte). A string is a variable length field for storing a sequence of characters.

What type of cryptographic operation(s) are non-reversible?

Cryptographic hashing. You might also mention asymmetric encryption and public/private key pairs, where an operation performed with one key can only be reversed by the linked key and NOT by the key that performed the original operation.

What key combination can you use to force the browser to ignore any locally cached files when refreshing a page?

Ctrl+F5.

What are the four inks used to produce color prints?

Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (CMYK).

What class of data is a transport encryption protocol designed to protect?

Data in transit (or data in motion).

What is the risk of using a free Wi-Fi network to make an order from an online shop?

Data on an open network may be intercepted by the person running the network or by other computers connected to the network. You need to ensure that the online store uses a secure (HTTPS) connection.

What are the three main areas where redundancy should be provisioned?

Data/storage (RAID), network links, and power. You might additionally mention site-level redundancy, though this is very expensive to provision.

What type of computing device(s) is macOS designed for installation on?

Desktop computers/workstations and laptops.

What type of computer is most likely to need peripheral devices?

Desktop computer—you could also call this a Personal Computer (PC) or a workstation. An All-in-one PC also uses peripheral devices, with the obvious exception of a monitor.

You are advising a colleague about best practices when troubleshooting. You have identified the following techniques to use to identify a problem: gather information, duplicate the problem, question users, identify symptoms, and approach multiple problems individually. If you are following CompTIA's troubleshooting model, what other piece of advice should you give?

Determine if anything has changed—this is one of the most useful troubleshooting techniques.

What data protection technology could you implement in order to restrict the type of activity that users could employ on digital products that they have purchased or rented?

Digital Rights Management (DRM).

Can you list at least four Internet access methods?

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), cable/Hybrid Fiber Coax, Fiber to the Curb (FTTC), satellite, and cellular radio.

Which specific attack uses a botnet to threaten availability?

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS).

Which protocol allows people to use names/labels to address network resources rather than numeric addresses?

Domain Name System (DNS).

What type of malware is being described? The malware encrypts the user's documents folder and any attached removable disks then extorts the user for money to release the encryption key.

Ransomware.

What type of software would you use to configure a server by connecting to it over the network?

Remote Desktop.

If you have made changes to a file and want to keep both the original file and the modified version, what command should you use?

Save As.

What information do you need to configure a wireless connection manually?

Service Set ID (SSID)/network name, encryption type, and authentication information (a preshared key if not using enterprise authentication).

Why is prioritization a critical task for disaster recovery?

Services may have dependencies that make restoring them in the wrong order futile. Also, disasters lead to scarce resources so the most critical services must be given priority. These should be identified before the disaster occurs so that staff working to recover systems are properly guided.

What type of system allows a user to authenticate once to access multiple services?

Single Sign-On (SSO).

What is a SOP?

Standard Operating Procedure.

You have made a backup of system data using a removable hard disk. What should you do next?

Store the disk in a secure location—preferably in a different place to the PC.

What language is usually used to request data from an RDBMS such as Oracle?

Structured Query Language (SQL) is used to query RDBMS-based database platforms.

Why might you use the Services snap-in to manage background processes rather than Task Manager?

Task Manager allows you to start and stop services but the Services snap-in also allows you to configure service properties.

What default installation folders contain system and application files that should not normally be deleted or modified manually?

The 'Windows' and 'Program Files' folders.

You want to restrict access to a computer on your network to a single Internet host running a particular application. What two things do you need to configure in your firewall's access control list?

The IP address of the host and the port number of the application.

Why might a company ban use of the corporate network and desktop software for personal communications?

The company might be held responsible for inappropriate content posted by its employees. The issue of privacy is also complex and it is often better for both the company and the employee to use corporate systems for business communications only.

Why might one of your first tasks on receiving a new computer be to remove software applications?

The computer may be bundled with pre-installed software that you do not want

What two things are configured on a disk to make storage space on the disk available to the Windows OS?

The disk must contain at least one partition, typically allocated a drive letter, and the partition must be formatted with a suitable file system.

Why should you be more careful about deleting files from a USB flash drive than from the main hard drive?

The files will not be recycled so there is no possibility of retrieving them if you change your mind (at least, not without using specialist data recovery software).

Which of the following parts of a web address is usually depends on a name resolution service: protocol type, host location, file path?

The host location is usually represented by a Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN), such as www.comptia.org, resolved to a numeric IP address by DNS.

You need to plug a microphone into a computer to make a recording. How would you identify which jack to use?

The jack should be color-coded (pink). There may be an icon to represent usage though. If neither is present, check the system documentation.

A friend is asking for your help in using her computer. When he presses the key marked @, a different symbol appears. What could be the cause?

The keyboard is set to use a UK layout—you can correct this using the Language Bar.

What crucial piece of information would you need when trying to locate support information about a computer system on the manufacturer's website?

The model number or a service code.

What computer component is most restrictive in terms of determining upgrade potential for a desktop computer?

The motherboard—it is difficult and expensive to replace.

A hard drive is rated at 10,000 RPM. What is the significance of this statistic?

The number of revolutions per minute (RPM) is one of the basic factors determining the speed of the drive. 10,000 rpm represents good performance (15K rpm is the best available).

You have asked a senior manager to authorize your plan of action for resolving a fault in a software application. What name is given to the process you are following?

This is escalating the problem. You might escalate a problem to more experienced staff or seek help with a solution plan that is beyond your authority to put into action.

What term is used to describe terminating a process that is not responding to user input?

This is often called "killing" the process.

What feature allows data to be removed from a device if is lost or stolen?

This is referred to as remote wipe or sometimes as a kill switch.

Why isn't a smartphone a good tool for writing a report?

Touchscreen or mini keyboards are not optimized for writing lots of text, though it is possible to attach them as peripheral devices

You have installed a screensaver application. Later, after updating your antivirus software, a malicious program is found. This appears to have infected your system at the same time as the screensaver was installed. What class of malware is this?

Trojan Horse.

True or false? All types of computers use CPU and system memory.

True

True or false? A hard disk connected to a computer via a USB port could be described as "Direct Attached Storage."

True.

True or false? You do not need to install a web application to your computer; it would be accessed via a browser.

True.

True or false? An OEM site is a reputable source of management software and drivers for a particular system.

True—an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) in the IT industry, such as Dell or HP, assembles systems made from the parts and software of various other suppliers. The components used in their systems may be specific to their brand and so they host their own support files for any system they sell.

True or false? If your PC does not have a flash memory card reader, you should be able to connect the camera itself to the PC over USB to copy images off the card.

True—must cameras support USB connections.

True or false? Any version or edition of Windows can be used to share files with other users.

True—non-server editions are restricted in the number of simultaneous clients though.

What do you need to know to connect to a device that is configured over the network?

Typically the Internet Protocol (IP) address of its management page. Some devices may use a name to locate the page instead. You are also likely to be prompted for a user name and password.

What type of connector would you use for an external hard drive to connect to a Windows PC?

USB. Firewire, eSATA, or Thunderbird are also possible but not nearly so popular. Most drives are now USB3 or USB3.1. Note that you can plug a USB3 drive into a USB2 port, so long as you have a USB3 device cable.

You are looking for content on a topic but your search is returning millions of matches that are not particularly helpful. What two methods could you use to get better search results?

Use more search keywords (ideally with 'uncommon' words) or search for an exact phrase by enclosing it in quotes.

What does HTTP stand for?

HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

What is the latest Wi-Fi standard and which frequency band(s) does it use?

IEEE 802.11ac works in the 5 GHz band. Most 802.11ac access points do have 2.4 GHz radios but they use them to support legacy standards.

What are the four processes of an access control system?

Identification, Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting.

What is the advantage of a local network hosted application, in terms of data storage?

If data is stored on the server not on the local workstation, it is easier to apply access controls and to back it up.

Give an example of unstructured data.

Images and text files and other document formats are unstructured data.

Users should only be granted the minimum sufficient permissions. What system policy ensures that users do not receive rights unless granted explicitly?

Implicit deny.

What part of the process of data analytics is most closely supported by meaningful reporting?

Insights are the "end product" of the analytic process. Humans need a suitable reporting format to make best use of insights.

Why would Windows prompt you to enter a password if you try to install a software application?

Installing an application requires administrator privileges and is an action protected by User Account Control. If you were logged on as an administrator already, you might have to enter the password on a domain; if you were logged on as an ordinary user, you would have to enter the administrator's user name and password.

Which data type provides for whole numbers only?

Integer.

What protocol is usually used to provide logical addressing on networks?

Internet Protocol (IP).

What is an interpreted language?

Interpreted languages do not need to be compiled. They run within the context of an interpreter which converts the code to machine code during runtime.

Why should a security policy instruct users not to reveal their password to technical support staff?

It exposes users to social engineering attacks to gather login credentials for malicious use. Any request for a password should be treated by users as suspicious.

You are setting up a new computer, but it doesn't seem to be working. Should you check anything or contact the manufacturer?

It would be best to double-check you have connected the cables correctly (especially power).

Give two examples of semi-structured data stores.

Key/value pair databases and markup language document stores.

Why can't you use memory modules designed for a desktop computer in a laptop?

Laptops use a smaller form factor called SO-DIMM while desktops use DIMMs.

What type of mouse would you recommend for someone who uses their computer principally to play computer games and why?

Laser mouse—this registers cursor movements more quickly and accurately

What, if any, type of printer uses a fuser?

Laser printer—the fuser bonds the toner to the surface of the paper using high heat and pressure.

What is an example of an open source operating system?

Linux, Chromium, or Android.

What is the main advantage of using a CPU in 64-bit mode?

Makes more system memory accessible. A 64-bit CPU and OS is also required to run 64-bit applications, but there are not too many of these yet. 64-bit software is more reliable and a bit faster than 32-bit software.

What type of file system must the partition that Windows files are installed on use?

NTFS.

What are the key features of a packet switching network

Nodes within the network can perform a forwarding function, allowing a packet to utilize any available path through the network. This makes the network robust against link failures. If is beneficial for the network to use small packets that are easy to re-send.

What type of control prevents a user from denying they performed an action?

Non-repudiation. Examples of controls providing non-repudiation include logging, video surveillance, biometrics, signatures, and receipts/tokens.

You have a motherboard that is designed for DDR2 memory that works at a bus speed of 533 MHz. You have some DDR3 memory modules that also work at a bus speed of 533 MHz. Are the modules compatible with the motherboard?

No—DDR3 modules cannot be used in DDR2 slots.

Your friend sent you an email link, which you have opened, and now the browser is asking whether you should install a plug-in to view all the content on the page. Should you proceed?

No—this is a classic phishing attack and your friend's computer could be infected with a virus or Trojan. Check whether they sent the link in good faith first.

You have to open a file located on a network server. What should be your first step?

Open the Network object from Explorer and locate the server (computer) hosting the file.

What type of access mechanism is MOST vulnerable to a replay attack?

Use of a token generated by software. If the token is not authenticated properly by the server, it could be vulnerable to replay, where someone else obtaining the token can masquerade as the original user.

What part of the system memory setup is most user-configurable?

Use of virtual memory or a pagefile, where disk space is used to supplement system RAM.

Following installation of a program written for an older version of Windows, you receive an alert that it might not have installed correctly. What feature could you use to make the program run correctly?

Use the program's Compatibility tab to use settings for the older Windows version.

What is the main means by which anti-virus software identifies infected files?

Using definitions or signatures of known virus code. These definitions must be kept up-to-date.

In order to obtain support, the software vendor wants to know the application's product ID. How would you locate this information?

Usually via the Help > About menu.

What should you do before attempting to set up a new computer system?

Verify that the environment is suitable and that the installation will be safe.

Which admin tool or screen would you use to configure a Windows computer to join a domain?

Via the System applet in Control Panel or via the Settings app (Access work or school).

You want to use a website that hosts training modules in a custom media format. What type of add-on would you need to install to play this media?

You would need to install a type of browser add-on called a plugin. Plug-ins should be restricted to interacting with the media object on the web page.

True or false? A standard user cannot change their own password.

a) False—ordinary users can change their own password but cannot change anyone else's.

The Task Scheduler allows you to run a process automatically in Windows. What is a widely-used Linux equivalent?

cron is widely used to run tasks automatically in Linux.

What is the decimal number 75 in binary and hexadecimal?

0100 1011 in binary and 4B in hex. Hex notation is often indicated using 0x to precede the hex digits, so you may see this written like 0x4b. To work out the answer without a calculator, write out the place values for each notation system. For binary you'd have columns for 64, 32, 16, 8, 4, 2, and 1 and put a 1 in each column you need to add up to 75 and a 0 in the others. For hex you only need 16 and 1 (75 divided by 16 is 4 remainder 11, which is represented as "B" in hex).

You want to purchase a flat-panel monitor that can show widescreen movies. You are considering models with native resolutions of 1400x1050 and 1920x1200. Which should you choose?

1920x1200 as this is a widescreen format.

What is a mapped drive?

A folder shared by a network server that the client connects to via a drive letter that redirects to the network share name (\\Server\Folder).

What type of component provides a passive cooling solution?

A heatsink or heat spreader removes heat from the component by convection with no power required. However, it is usually necessary to cool the heatsink or heat spreader itself and this is likely to require active cooling (a fan).

How is a Windows library different from a folder?

A library acts as a virtual folder by displaying the contents of multiple folders, which could be located on different drives.

What type of component provides persistent storage?

A mass storage device such as a Hard Disk Drive (HDD), Solid State Drive (SSD), or flash memory. You could also mention optical discs (CD, DVD, Blu-Ray).

What is the difference between a modem and a router?

A modem creates a serial link between two computers over some sort of long distance media. It operates at the data link layer. A router makes forwarding decisions between logical networks. It does not need to take account of the framing and transmission details—those are the responsibility of the modem (or of an Ethernet switch or wireless access point). It just needs to know that a particular logical network can be reached over one of its interfaces. Most SOHO devices pack all these functions into a single appliance but it is important to appreciate the differences between the functions.

What is a packet made up of?

A packet consists of a number of fields contained within a header section plus a payload. The payload could be a packet from the protocol layer above.

True or false? Browser pop-up windows are definite symptoms of virus infection.

False—these could be a result of adware or part of the design of a particular site (admittedly, not a site you'd want to visit often).

True or false? Mice and keyboards must be connected to a computer via PS/2 ports.

False—they are now much more likely to use USB or wireless (Bluetooth or other RF) interfaces.

What two main privacy issues arise from using a social networking site?

Firstly, you need to control how far information you post to the site is distributed. You could make it private, accessible to close friends only, accessible to all your contacts, or accessible to anyone. Secondly, you need to know how the company processes, stores, and transfers or sells any data it collects about you, including information you post and your activity on the site.

What sort of account allows someone to access a computer without providing a user name or password?

Guest account.

What protocol would be used to provide encrypted file downloads from a web server?

HTTPS—HyperText Transfer Protocol with Secure Sockets Layer/Transport Layer Security (SSL/TLS).

Which notation system supports presenting the largest numbers using the fewest digits: Binary, Decimal, or Hexadecimal?

Hexadecimal. Each hex digit can store 16 bits of information. A single decimal digit stores 4 bits while binary obviously stores 1 bit.

How would you access the system setup program on a PC?

Historically, by pressing the appropriate key during startup (ESC, DEL, F1, F2, or F10). Modern PCs often use fast boot modes that require some other means of booting to the firmware setup program.

What function of an operating system is performed by the "shell?"

Interface between the user and the computer

What is the purpose of an accelerometer, as fitted in a mobile device?

It is one of the components that detects how the user is moving the device around. This is used to set the screen orientation and as an advanced control mechanism.

In considering availability concerns, what use might a lockable faceplate on a server-class computer be?

It may prevent the user switching the machine on or off (useful for servers) or accessing removable drives and ports.

You have to open a word processing application but you cannot see an icon on the desktop. What should you do?

Look for the shortcut in Start Menu or Start Screen—not all programs add shortcuts on the Desktop.

What is the main type of non-discretionary access control?

Mandatory Access Control—though any rules-based system might restrict discretionary aspects of granting rights.

Is an INSERT statement an example of a definition or manipulation language statement?

Manipulation language—it depends on the structure of a table (columns, data types, and constraints) being established already.

How is a markup language differ from a compiled language?

Markup doesn't provide instructions for the CPU to run as such. Markup is a way of using nested tags within a document to describe its structure and contents

What sort of device would you need to transfer data from a "Memory Stick?"

Memory card reader/multi-card reader. Do note that Memory Sticks are no longer in production so you could struggle to locate a suitable reader.

What type(s) of IoT appliance are less likely to be controlled via a home automation hub?

Modern cars and medical devices are unlikely to interface via a hub. Home automation hubs link to kitchen and domestic appliances, streaming media players, and potentially security systems.

What type of connection would a NAS device use?

Network Attached Storage (NAS) means using either a cabled (Ethernet) or Wi-Fi link to the network.

In Windows, you can access data via letter-labeled "drives." Do these correspond exactly to physical disks?

Not necessarily in the case of hard disks, which can be configured with multiple partitions, each of which can be assigned a drive letter. Optical drives and flash memory cards cannot be partitioned however.

What is the difference between freeware and open source software?

Open source means that the programming code used to design the software is also made available (and you must make it available in turn if you sell or distribute any part of it). Freeware means the software product costs nothing to use but this does not mean that the code is made available too or that you could modify the software and distribute it yourself.

You need to configure settings for an input device. What should be your first step?

Open the Settings app or Control Panel.

What function of a scanner would you use if you want to convert a letter that someone has mailed to you into a computer-editable document?

Optical Character Recognition (OCR).

You are considering buying a new display device. The model you are considering accepts digital inputs only. Your computer's graphics adapter has a blue port with 15 holes. Would this flat-panel be a wise purchase?

Probably not, as this connector is VGA, which supports analog output only. It is possible to buy converters however.

What are constants and variables examples of?

Programming identifiers.

What type of software manages tasks, dependencies, and timelines?

Project management software.

What three things define an object?

Properties, attributes, and methods.

What shows the structure of code without using the specific syntax of any one language?

Pseudocode.

What term is used to describe selecting and viewing information in a database?

Query.

Part of host hardening is to reduce the attack surface. What configuration changes does reducing the attack surface involve?

Removing unwanted and unnecessary software, disabling unused OS features and services, and closing unnecessary network ports. This reduces the ways other hosts or processes can interact with the hardened host.

What compatibility information should you confirm before installing a software application?

That it works with the version of Windows that you have and that your computer meets the system (hardware) requirements.

What identifies a website as using the secure HTTPS protocol with a valid certificate?

The URL shows the "https://" protocol and the browser shows a padlock icon. For sites that have passed special validation regimes, the address bar will be shown in green. If a site uses https but the certificate is not trusted by the browser, an alert is displayed.

How does a one-time password work?

The password is generated by an asymmetric encryption algorithm. This means that the authenticating server can determine that the number was generated by a particular device (fob) at a particular time. When used with a PIN, it also proves that the password was input by a particular user.

What is the registry and how does it distinguish Windows and Linux?

The registry is a database of configuration settings supporting the Windows OS. Linux uses individual text files to store settings.

Why don't laptops make good servers?

There is no room for expansion and you are paying for components and design (maximum portability) you do not need.

How can a client-server application architecture be described if there is the potential for the structure of the application platform to be developed further?

This could be described as a two-tier application. It could be redeveloped as a three-tier application by specifying presentation, application, and data layers.

What kind of data would you expect to find in a file with a TIFF extension?

This is an image file format

An attacker has used a rogue access point to intercept traffic passing between wireless clients and the wired network segment. What type of attack is this?

This is typical of a Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attack.

What are the two main ways that spam might expose recipients to hazardous content?

Through malware-infected attachments and through links to malicious websites.

True or false? A single layer Blu-ray Disc has greater capacity than a duallayer, double-sided DVD.

True—the capacity of a single layer Blu-ray disc is 25 GB compared to 17 GB for a dual-layer, double-sided DVD.

True or false? Most anti-virus software can remediate a system by blocking access to an infected file but not actually deleting it.

True—this is called quarantining the file.

Following installation of an application, another program on your computer has stopped working. What could you do to try to fix it?

Try using the Repair option in Programs and Features (if available) or re-installing the program

How might spyware be able to steal a password?

Typically by monitoring key strokes (a key logger). It might also be able to steal password databases and decrypt them.

Which data representation format can encode the widest range of characters?

Unicode can represent millions of characters (glyphs). ASCII's 7-bit data structure can only support 128 characters, some of which are non-printable control characters.

What is the technical term for a web address?

Uniform Resource Locator (URL). In fact, Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) is now preferred in web standards documentation but URL is more widely known and used.

What type of wired interface is a printer MOST likely to use?

Universal Serial Bus (USB).

Windows comes with web server software but it is not enabled by default. How would you install this software?

Use the Turn Windows features on or off dialog from Programs and Features.

Your colleague is using a laptop and you notice that he laboriously clicks the mouse repeatedly to scroll through the document you are co-editing. What technique could he use to be more productive?

Use the mouse scroll wheel (or if it doesn't have one drag the scroll button in the scroll bar).

What protection feature in Windows is designed to prevent a script or software from making unauthorized changes to the OS configuration?

User Access Control (UAC). UAC means that the user must input their credentials or click through an authorization prompt before the configuration change can be made

Your computer locks up periodically and feels hot to the touch. Could these things be related?

Yes, many lockup problems are caused by overheating. The first step would be to clean the fan exhaust vents of dust.

You have to sign in to Windows—does it matter if the CAPS LOCK light on the keyboard is activated?

Yes—passwords are case-sensitive

You want to find something on a particular website, but the site does not have a search tool. Could you use a general search engine, and if so, how?

Yes—you use an advanced search form or use the site: operator (for example 'certification site:comptia.org').

When setting up a desktop computer, what factor should you consider when deciding on the location of the system case?

You do not want to leave trailing wires over walkways so you need to consider the position of power outlet(s) and where peripheral devices will be placed. You also want to ensure adequate air flow around the system unit.

You want to purchase a computer with a fast graphics interface. What type of expansion slot should you look for?

PCIe x16—this is a type of PCI Express slot that uses 16 'lanes'. Each lane can transfer 250 MBps (or 500 MBps for PCIe 2 and 1 GBps for v3).

True or false? USB cables have the same connectors at either end.

Partly false—the connectors for the host (PC) and device use different form factors (there are also normal size and mini or micro device connectors). A new reversible Type C connector is starting to be used however.

Why is it important not to use simple words or names as a password?

Password-cracking software is configured with dictionaries of such names and phrases. Even if the password is encrypted, if it matches a term in the password-cracking dictionary it will be discovered in seconds.

What type of legal protection could be obtained for a novel software algorithm?

Patent provides the best protection as it can enforce ownership even if someone tries to write the algorithm in a slightly different way. Software code is often protected both by patent and by copyright however.

What type of gesture is typically used for zooming on a touchscreen?

Pinch.

Your colleague has to run many applications at the same time and finds it difficult to know which icon to choose when switching between them. What alternative method could you suggest?

Press Alt+Tab—this shows previews of the window. Windows can also show previews of the window contents when pointing at the taskbar icon.

What basic command demonstrates that a printer is connected properly to a computer and that its driver is installed correctly for Windows?

Print Test Page.

You want to configure a printer to use both sides of the paper (duplex) by default. You have alt-clicked the printer object—which command should you select to proceed?

Printing preferences.

You need a development environment with a library of database functions. What type of interface are you using?

Programmatic access.

You are using a computer in an Internet cafe. What should you do at the end of the session

Clear the browser cache or use the workstation's browser private/incognito browsing mode.

Apart from passwords and PII, what other type(s) of confidential information should be governed by classification and handling procedures?

Company confidential information and customer information.

Which property of secure information is compromised by snooping?

Confidentiality—keeping information disclosure restricted to authorized persons only.

What type of file might a website use to track whether you have visited it before?

Cookie.

A user has two USB drives connected to her PC. She complains that when she copies large files to both drives at the same time, it seems to take much longer. Why might this be?

Bandwidth on the USB bus is shared between all devices.

What three scripting options are commonly used in Windows 10 to perform administrative tasks?

Batch files, Windows PowerShell scripts, and VBScripts.

Which Windows interface is used for advanced management and troubleshooting of devices?

Device Manager is used to update drivers and obtain more advanced troubleshooting information. The basic user interface is either Devices and Printers or the device pages in the Settings app, depending on the Windows version.

What is it that defines the relationship between tables in an RDBMS?

Each table contains a primary key whose value is unique for each record in the table. A foreign table can use the value of a primary key as a relation, storing the value in a foreign key field.

True or false? If you want to configure the DPI of a display device, you would do so via the Personalization app.

False—Dots Per Inch (DPI) or scaling is configured via Display properties. Personalization is for configuring themes and the appearance of the desktop.

True or false? Windows 10 is the first 64-bit edition of Windows.

False—Windows 10 is better described as a version than edition and there have been 64-bit editions of Windows versions since Windows XP.

True or false? A plug-in card is always required to support PC sound.

False—sound functions are often provided by the motherboard chipset.

rue or false? A smartphone cannot join a Wi-Fi network if the SSID is not being broadcast.

False—the SSID (or network name) can be entered manually, as with a computer.

True or false? HDMI is the only type of display interface that supports High Definition picture resolutions.

False—there is also DisplayPort and Thunderbolt and some DVI formats also support HD resolutions.