Free Practice Questions for ISC SSCP Exam

The percentage at which the False Rejection Rate equals the False Acceptance Rate is called the Crossover Error Rate (CER). Another name for the CER is the Equal Error Rate (EER), any of the two terms could be used.

Equal error rate or crossover error rate (EER or CER)

It is the rate at which both accept and reject errors are equal. The EER is a quick way to compare the accuracy of devices with different ROC curves. In general, the device with the lowest EER is most accurate.

The other choices were all wrong answers:

The following are used as performance metrics for biometric systems:

false accept rate or false match rate (FAR or FMR): the probability that the system incorrectly matches the input pattern to a non-matching template in the database. It measures the percent of invalid inputs which are incorrectly accepted. This is when an impostor would be accepted by the system.

False reject rate or false non-match rate (FRR or FNMR): the probability that the system fails to detect a match between the input pattern and a matching template in the database. It measures the percent of valid inputs which are incorrectly rejected. This is when a valid company employee would be rejected by the system.

Failure to enroll rate (FTE or FER): the rate at which attempts to create a template from an input is unsuccessful. This is most commonly caused by low quality inputs.

Reference(s) used for this question:

KRUTZ, Ronald L. & VINES, Russel D., The CISSP Prep Guide: Mastering the Ten Domains of Computer Security, 2001, John Wiley & Sons, Page 38.

and

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biometrics

The Answer: Biometrics; Biometrics are defined as an automated means of identifying or authenticating the identity of a living person based on physiological or behavioral characteristics.

Source: KRUTZ, Ronald L. & VINES, Russel D., The CISSP Prep Guide: Mastering the Ten Domains of Computer Security, 2001, John Wiley & Sons, Pages 37,38.

Banners at the log-on time should be used to notify external users of any monitoring that is being conducted. A good banner will give you a better legal stand and also makes it obvious the user was warned about who should access the system and if it is an unauthorized user then he is fully aware of trespassing.

This is a tricky question, the keyword in the question is External user.

There are two possible answers based on how the question is presented, this question could either apply to internal users or ANY anonymous user.

Internal users should always have a written agreement first, then logon banners serve as a constant reminder.

Anonymous users, such as those logging into a web site, ftp server or even a mail server; their only notification system is the use of a logon banner.

References used for this question:

KRUTZ, Ronald L. & VINES, Russel D., The CISSP Prep Guide: Mastering the Ten Domains of Computer Security, 2001, John Wiley & Sons, Page 50.

and

Shon Harris, CISSP All-in-one, 5th edition, pg 873

The Answer: authentication. Kerberos is an authentication service. It can use single-factor or multi-factor authentication methods.

The following answers are incorrect:

non-repudiation. Since Kerberos deals primarily with symmetric cryptography, it does not help with non-repudiation.

confidentiality. Once the client is authenticated by Kerberos and obtains its session key and ticket, it may use them to assure confidentiality of its communication with a server; however, that is not a Kerberos service as such.

authorization. Although Kerberos tickets may include some authorization information, the meaning of the authorization fields is not standardized in the Kerberos specifications, and authorization is not a primary Kerberos service.

The following reference(s) were/was used to create this question:

ISC2 OIG,2007 p. 179-184

Shon Harris AIO v.3 152-155

As this is not a characteristic of Biometrics this is the rigth choice for this question. This is one of the three basic way authentication can be performed and it is not related to Biometrics. Example of something you know would be a password or PIN for example.

Please make a note of the negative 'FALSE' within the question. This question may seem tricky to some of you but you would be amazed at how many people cannot deal with negative questions. There will be a few negative questions within the real exam, just like this one the keyword NOT or FALSE will be in Uppercase to clearly indicate that it is negative.

Biometrics verifies an individual’s identity by analyzing a unique personal attribute or behavior, which is one of the most effective and accurate methods of performing authentication (one to one matching) or identification (a one to many matching).

A biometric system scans an attribute or behavior of a person and compares it to a template store within an authentication server datbase, such template would be created in an earlier enrollment process. Because this system inspects the grooves of a person’s fingerprint, the pattern of someone’s retina, or the pitches of someone’s voice, it has to be extremely sensitive.

The system must perform accurate and repeatable measurements of anatomical or physiological characteristics. This type of sensitivity can easily cause false positives or false negatives. The system must be calibrated so that these false positives and false negatives occur infrequently and the results are as accurate as possible.

There are two types of failures in biometric identification:

False Rejection also called False Rejection Rate (FRR) — The system fail to recognize a legitimate user. While it could be argued that this has the effect of keeping the protected area extra secure, it is an intolerable frustration to legitimate users who are refused access because the scanner does not recognize them.

False Acceptance or False Acceptance Rate (FAR) — This is an erroneous recognition, either by confusing one user with another or by accepting an imposter as a legitimate user.

Physiological Examples:

Unique Physical Attributes:

Fingerprint (Most commonly accepted)

Hand Geometry

Retina Scan (Most accurate but most intrusive)

Iris Scan

Vascular Scan

Behavioral Examples:

Repeated Actions

Keystroke Dynamics

(Dwell time (the time a key is pressed) and Flight time (the time between "key up" and the next "key down").

Signature Dynamics

(Stroke and pressure points)

EXAM TIP:

Retina scan devices are the most accurate but also the most invasive biometrics system available today. The continuity of the retinal pattern throughout life and the difficulty in fooling such a device also make it a great long-term, high-security option. Unfortunately, the cost of the proprietary hardware as well the stigma of users thinking it is potentially harmful to the eye makes retinal scanning a bad fit for most situations.

Remember for the exam that fingerprints are the most commonly accepted type of biometrics system.

The other answers are incorrect:

'Users can be authenticated based on behavior.' is incorrect as this choice is TRUE as it pertains to BIOMETRICS.

Biometrics systems makes use of unique physical characteristics or behavior of users.

'User can be authenticated based on unique physical attributes.' is also incorrect as this choice is also TRUE as it pertains to BIOMETRICS. Biometrics systems makes use of unique physical characteristics or behavior of users.

'A biometric system's accuracy is determined by its crossover error rate (CER)' is also incorrect as this is TRUE as it also pertains to BIOMETRICS. The CER is the point at which the false rejection rates and the false acceptance rates are equal. The smaller the value of the CER, the more accurate the system.

Reference(s) used for this question:

Hernandez CISSP, Steven (2012-12-21). Official (ISC)2 Guide to the CISSP CBK, Third Edition ((ISC)2 Press) (Kindle Locations 25353-25356). Auerbach Publications. Kindle Edition.

and

Hernandez CISSP, Steven (2012-12-21). Official (ISC)2 Guide to the CISSP CBK, Third Edition ((ISC)2 Press) (Kindle Locations 25297-25303). Auerbach Publications. Kindle Edition.

"Ultimately, people are the last line of defense for your company’s assets" (Pastore & Dulaney, 2006, p. 529).

Pastore, M. and Dulaney, E. (2006). CompTIA Security+ study guide: Exam SY0-101. Indianapolis, IN: Sybex.

Detective administrative controls warn of administrative control violations. Rotation of duties, required vacations and security reviews and audits are forms of detective administrative controls. Separation of duties is the practice of dividing the steps in a system function among different individuals, so as to keep a single individual from subverting the process, thus a preventive control rather than a detective control.

Source: DUPUIS, Cl?ment, Access Control Systems and Methodology CISSP Open Study Guide, version 1.0 (march 2002).

PIN Stands for Personal Identification Number, as the name states it is a combination of numbers.

The following answers are incorrect:

User ID This is incorrect because a Userid is not required to be a number and a Userid is only used to establish identity not verify it.

Password. This is incorrect because a password is not required to be a number, it could be any combination of characters.

Challenge. This is incorrect because a challenge is not defined as a number, it could be anything.

C deals with discretionary protection. See matric below:

TCSEC Matric

The following are incorrect answers:

D is incorrect. D deals with minimal security.

B is incorrect. B deals with mandatory protection.

A is incorrect. A deals with verified protection.

Reference(s) used for this question:

CBK, p. 329 – 330

and

Shon Harris, CISSP All In One (AIO), 6th Edition , page 392-393

Since all the secret keys are held and authentication is performed on the Kerberos TGS and the authentication servers, these servers are vulnerable to both physical attacks and attacks from malicious code.

Because a client's password is used in the initiation of the Kerberos request for the service protocol, password guessing can be used to impersonate a client.

Source: KRUTZ, Ronald L. & VINES, Russel D., The CISSP Prep Guide: Mastering the Ten Domains of Computer Security, 2001, John Wiley & Sons, Page 42.

With mandatory access control (MAC), the authorization of a subject's access to an object is dependant upon labels, which indicate the subject's clearance, and the classification or sensitivity of the object. Label-based access control is not defined.

Source: KRUTZ, Ronald L. & VINES, Russel D., The CISSP Prep Guide: Mastering the Ten Domains of Computer Security, John Wiley & Sons, 2001, Chapter 2: Access control systems (page 33).

The most commonly used fence is the chain linked fence and it is the most affordable. The standard is a six-foot high fence with two-inch mesh square openings. The material should consist of nine-gauge vinyl or galvanized metal. Nine-gauge is a typical fence material installed in residential areas.

Additionally, it is recommended to place barbed wire strands angled out from the top of the fence at a 45° angle and away from the protected area with three strands running across the top. This will provide for a seven-foot fence. There are several variations of the use of “top guards” using V-shaped barbed wire or the use of concertina wire as an enhancement, which has been a replacement for more traditional three strand barbed wire “top guards.”

The fence should be fastened to ridged metal posts set in concrete every six feet with additional bracing at the corners and gate openings. The bottom of the fence should be stabilized against intruders crawling under by attaching posts along the bottom to keep the fence from being pushed or pulled up from the bottom. If the soil is sandy, the bottom edge of the fence should be installed below ground level.

For maximum security design, the use of double fencing with rolls of concertina wire positioned between the two fences is the most effective deterrent and cost-efficient method. In this design, an intruder is required to use an extensive array of ladders and equipment to breach the fences.

Most fencing is largely a psychological deterrent and a boundary marker rather than a barrier, because in most cases such fences can be rather easily penetrated unless added security measures are taken to enhance the security of the fence. Sensors attached to the fence to provide electronic monitoring of cutting or scaling the fence can be used.

Reference(s) used for this question:

Hernandez CISSP, Steven (2012-12-21). Official (ISC)2 Guide to the CISSP CBK, Third Edition ((ISC)2 Press) (Kindle Locations 24416-24431). Auerbach Publications. Kindle Edition.

The Answer: The use of discriminating judgment, a guard can make the determinations that hardware or other automated security devices cannot make due to its ability to adjust to rapidly changing conditions, to learn and alter recognizable patterns, and to respond to various conditions in the environment. Guards are better at making value decisions at times of incidents. They are appropriate whenever immediate, discriminating judgment is required by the security entity.

The following answers are incorrect:

The use of physical force This is not the best answer. A guard provides discriminating judgment, and the ability to discern the need for physical force.

The operation of access control devices A guard is often uninvolved in the operations of an automated access control device such as a biometric reader, a smart lock, mantrap, etc.

The need to detect unauthorized access The primary function of a guard is not to detect unauthorized access, but to prevent unauthorized physical access attempts and may deter social engineering attempts.

The following reference(s) were/was used to create this question:

Source: KRUTZ, Ronald L. & VINES, Russel D., The CISSP Prep Guide: Mastering the Ten Domains of Computer Security, John Wiley & Sons, 2001, Chapter 10: Physical security (page 339).

Source: ISC2 Offical Guide to the CBK page 288-289.

Controls like guards and general steps to maintain building security, securing of server rooms or laptops, the protection of cables, and usage of magnetic switches on doors and windows are all examples of Physical Security.

Reference(s) used for this question:

KRUTZ, Ronald L. & VINES, Russel D., The CISSP Prep Guide: Mastering the Ten Domains of Computer Security, 2001, John Wiley & Sons, Page 33.

Containing the dial-up problem is conceptually easy: by installing the Remote Access Server outside the firewall and forcing legitimate users to authenticate to the firewall, any access to internal resources through the RAS can be filtered as would any other connection coming from the Internet.

The use of a TACACS+ Server by itself cannot eliminate hacking.

Setting a modem ring count to 5 may help in defeating war-dialing hackers who look for modem by dialing long series of numbers.

Attaching modems only to non-networked hosts is not practical and would not prevent these hosts from being hacked.

Source: STREBE, Matthew and PERKINS, Charles, Firewalls 24seven, Sybex 2000, Chapter 2: Hackers.

Because the optical unit utilizes a camera and infrared light to create the images, sun light can impact the aperture so it must not be positioned in direct light of any type. Because the subject does not need to have direct contact with the optical reader, direct light can impact the reader.

An Iris recognition is a form of biometrics that is based on the uniqueness of a subject's iris. A camera like device records the patterns of the iris creating what is known as Iriscode.

It is the unique patterns of the iris that allow it to be one of the most accurate forms of biometric identification of an individual. Unlike other types of biometics, the iris rarely changes over time. Fingerprints can change over time due to scaring and manual labor, voice patterns can change due to a variety of causes, hand geometry can also change as well. But barring surgery or an accident it is not usual for an iris to change. The subject has a high-resoulution image taken of their iris and this is then converted to Iriscode. The current standard for the Iriscode was developed by John Daugman. When the subject attempts to be authenticated an infrared light is used to capture the iris image and this image is then compared to the Iriscode. If there is a match the subject's identity is confirmed. The subject does not need to have direct contact with the optical reader so it is a less invasive means of authentication then retinal scanning would be.

Reference(s) used for this question:

AIO, 3rd edition, Access Control, p 134.

AIO, 4th edition, Access Control, p 182.

Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_recognition

The following answers are incorrect:

concern that the laser beam may cause eye damage. The optical readers do not use laser so, concern that the laser beam may cause eye damage is not an issue.

the iris pattern changes as a person grows older. The question asked about the physical installation of the scanner, so this was not the best answer. If the question would have been about long term problems then it could have been the best choice. Recent research has shown that Irises actually do change over time: http://www.nature.com/news/ageing-eyes-hinder-biometric-scans-1.10722

there is a relatively high rate of false accepts. Since the advent of the Iriscode there is a very low rate of false accepts, in fact the algorithm used has never had a false match. This all depends on the quality of the equipment used but because of the uniqueness of the iris even when comparing identical twins, iris patterns are unique.

The Key Distribution Center (KDC) holds all users' and services' cryptographic keys. It provides authentication services, as well as key distribution functionality. The Authentication Service is the part of the KDC that authenticates a principal. The Key Distribution Service and Key Granting Service are distracters and are not defined Kerberos components.

Source: WALLHOFF, John, CISSP Summary 2002, April 2002, CBK#1 Access Control System & Methodology (page 3)

In biometrics, identification is a "one-to-many" search of an individual's characteristics from a database of stored images.

Source: KRUTZ, Ronald L. & VINES, Russel D., The CISSP Prep Guide: Mastering the Ten Domains of Computer Security, 2001, John Wiley & Sons, Page 38.

Controlling access by a subject (an active entity such as individual or process) to an object (a passive entity such as a file) involves setting up access rules.

These rules can be classified into three access control models: Mandatory, Discretionary, and Non-Discretionary.

An access matrix is one of the means used to implement access control.

Source: KRUTZ, Ronald L. & VINES, Russel D., The CISSP Prep Guide: Mastering the Ten Domains of Computer Security, 2001, John Wiley & Sons, Page 33.