Free Practice Questions for CompTIA N10-009 Exam

AnAccess Control List (ACL)configured on theedge firewallis the correct and most effective solution tofilter inbound traffic. The administrator can allow TCP port 443 (HTTPS) and deny all other traffic. This is a classic firewall configuration for securing public-facing servers.

Definition of MAC Flooding:

MAC flooding is an attack where a malicious actor sends numerous fake MAC addresses to a switch, overwhelming its CAM table. The CAM table stores MAC addresses and their associated ports for efficient traffic forwarding.

Impact of MAC Flooding:

CAM Table Overflow: When the CAM table is full, the switch cannot learn new MAC addresses and is forced to broadcast traffic to all ports, leading to a degraded network performance and potential data interception.

Switch Behavior: The switch operates in a fail-open mode, treating the network as a hub, which can be exploited for eavesdropping on traffic.

Comparison with Other Attacks:

ARP Spoofing: Involves sending false ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) messages to associate the attacker's MAC address with the IP address of another device.

Evil Twin: Involves creating a rogue wireless access point that mimics a legitimate one to intercept data.

DNS Poisoning: Involves corrupting the DNS cache with false information to redirect traffic to malicious sites.

Preventive Measures:

Port Security: Configure port security on switches to limit the number of MAC addresses per port, preventing CAM table overflow.

Network Segmentation: Use VLANs to segment network traffic and limit the impact of such attacks.

RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service) is a networking protocol that provides centralized Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) management for users who connect and use a network service. RADIUS is often used to manage access to wireless networks, enabling users to authenticate with their company credentials, ensuring secure access to the network.References: CompTIA Network+ study materials. ​

Direct Connect refers to a dedicated network connection between an on-premises network and a cloud service provider (such as AWS Direct Connect). This link bypasses the public internet, providing a more reliable and higher-bandwidth connection. It may not inherently include encryption because it relies on the security measures of the dedicated physical connection itself. In contrast, other options like VPN typically involve encryption as they traverse the public internet.

The issue is that more students have arrived on campus, meaning the available IP addresses are exhausted. To fix this, the administrator should increase the DHCP scope size to allow more devices to obtain IP addresses.

Breakdown of Options:

A. Enable IP helper – IP helper is used to forward DHCP requests across different subnets. However, the problem here is that the DHCP scope is full, not that requests are not reaching the server.

B. Change the subnet mask – The subnet mask determines the number of available hosts, but changing it without increasing the IP pool does not help.

C. Increase the scope size – Correct answer. Expanding the DHCP scope provides more IP addresses for assignment.

D. Add address exclusions – Exclusions reserve IP addresses, which would further reduce available addresses instead of solving the issue.

Role of an Access Point (AP):

Wireless to Wired Conversion: An access point (AP) is a device that allows wireless devices to connect to a wired network using Wi-Fi. It converts wireless signals (radio waves) into electronic signals that can be understood by wired network devices.

Functionality:

Signal Conversion: The AP receives wireless signals from devices such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets, converts them into electronic signals, and transmits them over the wired network.

Connectivity: APs provide a bridge between wireless and wired segments of the network, enabling seamless communication.

Comparison with Other Devices:

Router: Directs traffic between different networks and may include built-in AP functionality but is not primarily responsible for converting wireless to electronic signals.

Firewall: Protects the network by controlling incoming and outgoing traffic based on security rules, not involved in signal conversion.

Load Balancer: Distributes network or application traffic across multiple servers to ensure reliability and performance, not involved in signal conversion.

Deployment:

APs are commonly used in environments where wireless connectivity is needed, such as offices, homes, and public spaces. They enhance mobility and provide flexible network access.

A toner and probe tool, also known as a tone generator and probe, is used to trace and identify individual cables within a bundle or to locate the termination points of cables in wiring closets and patch panels. It generates a tone that can be picked up by the probe, helping technicians quickly and accurately identify and label wall plates and wiring. This is the best tool for identifying proper wiring in the Intermediate Distribution Frame (IDF). References: CompTIA Network+ Exam Objectives and official study guides.

TheSession Layer(Layer 5 of the OSI Model) is responsible for setting up, managing, and tearing down sessions between applications. It maintains dialog control and synchronizes data exchange between systems.

Disabling unused ports prevents unauthorized access and reduces the attack surface by ensuring that no inactive or unmonitored entry points are available for exploitation. Changing default passwords is critical for security because default credentials are widely known and can easily be exploited by attackers. These techniques are fundamental steps in hardening devices against unauthorized access and ensuring network security. References: CompTIA Network+ Exam Objectives and official study guides.