GSEC DEFINITIONS AND PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS 2026/2027
In which directory can executable programs that are part of the operating system be found?
(/) (/var) (/lib) (/dev) (/usr/bin) (/home)
INCORRECT ON PT -ANSWER-/usr/bin
The Windows Firewall (WF) provides a popup when a new service attempts to listen on your
machine. Which of the following should you train users to select from a security perspective
if they are unsure of which option to select?
(Keep Blocking) (Increase Security Level) (Safe Mode) (Send Request to Administrator) -
ANSWER-Keep Blocking
( Explanation )
The three available options for Windows Firewall are Keep Blocking, Unblock and Ask Me
Later. Keep Block does not allow the program to acquire a listening port. You should train
your users to choose this option when there is any doubt as to what they should do. There
are no Safe Mode or Send Request to Admin options.
Which Threat will be reduced when avoiding system calls from within a web app? -ANSWER-
OS command injection
( Explanation )
The primary way to avoid OS command injection attacks is to avoid system calls from your
web application, especially when the system call is built based on user input. In most cases,
you should be able to find a function or library within your programming language that can
perform the same action.
,How often by default does Windows Group Policy check for updated policies?
(Once a day) (Within 30 minutes of an applied policy change) (Every quarter hour) (Every 90-
120 minutes)
INCORRECT ON PT -ANSWER-Every 90-120 minutes
( Explanation )
When a computer boots up, it downloads the GPO's assigned to it and executes them
automatically. Every 90-120 minutes thereafter, the computer checks that none of the GPO's
assigned to it have changed, if any have, those are downloaded and run automatically even
if the computer has not rebooted. 0-30minutes, 30-60 minutes and 120-180 minutes are
durations a group policy could possibly be modified to use, the standard duration used by
Group Policy is 90-120 minutes.
Which of the following best describes Defense-in-Depth?
Layered controls - Separation of duties - Hardened perimeter security - Risk management -
ANSWER-Layered controls
( Explanation )
Defense-in-depth is best characterized by layered defenses. The idea is that any layer of
defense may eventually fail, but a Layered Defense offers better protection. Risk
management, separation of duties, and hardened perimeters are part of a layered defense
but do not describe the full concept of DiD.
Which of the following is considered a recommended practice but not a business
requirement?
Guideline - Standard - Baseline - Procedure
,INCORRECT ON PT -ANSWER-Guideline
( Explanation )
Guidelines, unlike standards and policies, are not mandatory. Guidelines are more of a
recommendation of how something should be done.
Which of the following is a characteristic of Quality Updates for Windows?
Are released less frequently than Feature Updates - Support deferring installation on Home
edition devices - Include bug fixes and security patches - Increment the version of Windows -
ANSWER-Include bug fixes and security patches
( Explanation )
Quality Updates are smaller improvements to already existing software on Windows
systems, and include bug fixes and security fixes. They are released about every 30 days,
whereas Feature Updates are released a couple of times a year and increment the Windows
version. Installation of Quality Updates may be deferred for up to 30 days, except on Home
edition devices.
When does applying an encryption algorithm multiple times provide additional security?
When the algorithm is a group - When the algorithm is not a group - The algorithm uses xor -
The algorithm is weak
INCORRECT ON PT -ANSWER-When the algorithm is not a group
( Explanation )
Whether an algorithm is a group is an important statistical consideration. If it is a group,
then applying the algorithm multiple times is a waste of time. In 1992, it was proven that
DES is not a group, in fact, so encrypting multiple times with DES is not equivalent to
encrypting once.
, How is a TCP/IP Packet generated as it moves down through the TCP/IP stack?
(Network Layer -> Transport Layer -> Internet Layer -> Application Layer ) (Network Layer ->
Internet Layer -> Transport Layer -> Application Layer) (Application Layer -> Transport Layer -
> Internet Layer -> Network Layer) (Application Layer -> Internet Layer -> Transport Layer ->
Network Layer) -ANSWER-Application Layer -> Transport Layer -> Internet Layer -> Network
Layer
( Explanation )
As a packet is generated the packet goes from the Application Layer to the Transport Layer to
the Internet Layer and finally to the Network Layer.
Which type of event classification is missed by a NIDS and has the most potential to be a
serious event?
True positive - False positive - True negative - False negative -ANSWER-False negative
( Explanation )
• False negative: A false negative event is when the IDS identifies data as benign when, in
fact, it is malicious. A false negative does not generate an alert for the analyst and therefore
these can be dangerous because the analyst cannot take action.• True negative: A true
negative event is what we want the IDS to see, the cases where data does not indicate any
malicious activity, and the data is correct. In the case of a true negative, the IDS does
notgenerate an alert for the analyst.• True positive: In these cases, the IDS worked as
intended and correctly flagged the activity asanomalous behavior that might be malicious.
True positives generate alerts for the analyst to process.• False positive: A false positive case
is where the IDS generates an alert flagging hostile activity,which was benign. False positives
generate alerts for the analyst to process, who then must decide how to handle the activity.
Which access control mechanism requires a high amount of maintenance since all data must
be classified, and all users granted appropriate clearance?
Mandatory - Role-Based - Ruleset-based - Discretionary
ANSWERS 2026/2027
In which directory can executable programs that are part of the operating system be found?
(/) (/var) (/lib) (/dev) (/usr/bin) (/home)
INCORRECT ON PT -ANSWER-/usr/bin
The Windows Firewall (WF) provides a popup when a new service attempts to listen on your
machine. Which of the following should you train users to select from a security perspective
if they are unsure of which option to select?
(Keep Blocking) (Increase Security Level) (Safe Mode) (Send Request to Administrator) -
ANSWER-Keep Blocking
( Explanation )
The three available options for Windows Firewall are Keep Blocking, Unblock and Ask Me
Later. Keep Block does not allow the program to acquire a listening port. You should train
your users to choose this option when there is any doubt as to what they should do. There
are no Safe Mode or Send Request to Admin options.
Which Threat will be reduced when avoiding system calls from within a web app? -ANSWER-
OS command injection
( Explanation )
The primary way to avoid OS command injection attacks is to avoid system calls from your
web application, especially when the system call is built based on user input. In most cases,
you should be able to find a function or library within your programming language that can
perform the same action.
,How often by default does Windows Group Policy check for updated policies?
(Once a day) (Within 30 minutes of an applied policy change) (Every quarter hour) (Every 90-
120 minutes)
INCORRECT ON PT -ANSWER-Every 90-120 minutes
( Explanation )
When a computer boots up, it downloads the GPO's assigned to it and executes them
automatically. Every 90-120 minutes thereafter, the computer checks that none of the GPO's
assigned to it have changed, if any have, those are downloaded and run automatically even
if the computer has not rebooted. 0-30minutes, 30-60 minutes and 120-180 minutes are
durations a group policy could possibly be modified to use, the standard duration used by
Group Policy is 90-120 minutes.
Which of the following best describes Defense-in-Depth?
Layered controls - Separation of duties - Hardened perimeter security - Risk management -
ANSWER-Layered controls
( Explanation )
Defense-in-depth is best characterized by layered defenses. The idea is that any layer of
defense may eventually fail, but a Layered Defense offers better protection. Risk
management, separation of duties, and hardened perimeters are part of a layered defense
but do not describe the full concept of DiD.
Which of the following is considered a recommended practice but not a business
requirement?
Guideline - Standard - Baseline - Procedure
,INCORRECT ON PT -ANSWER-Guideline
( Explanation )
Guidelines, unlike standards and policies, are not mandatory. Guidelines are more of a
recommendation of how something should be done.
Which of the following is a characteristic of Quality Updates for Windows?
Are released less frequently than Feature Updates - Support deferring installation on Home
edition devices - Include bug fixes and security patches - Increment the version of Windows -
ANSWER-Include bug fixes and security patches
( Explanation )
Quality Updates are smaller improvements to already existing software on Windows
systems, and include bug fixes and security fixes. They are released about every 30 days,
whereas Feature Updates are released a couple of times a year and increment the Windows
version. Installation of Quality Updates may be deferred for up to 30 days, except on Home
edition devices.
When does applying an encryption algorithm multiple times provide additional security?
When the algorithm is a group - When the algorithm is not a group - The algorithm uses xor -
The algorithm is weak
INCORRECT ON PT -ANSWER-When the algorithm is not a group
( Explanation )
Whether an algorithm is a group is an important statistical consideration. If it is a group,
then applying the algorithm multiple times is a waste of time. In 1992, it was proven that
DES is not a group, in fact, so encrypting multiple times with DES is not equivalent to
encrypting once.
, How is a TCP/IP Packet generated as it moves down through the TCP/IP stack?
(Network Layer -> Transport Layer -> Internet Layer -> Application Layer ) (Network Layer ->
Internet Layer -> Transport Layer -> Application Layer) (Application Layer -> Transport Layer -
> Internet Layer -> Network Layer) (Application Layer -> Internet Layer -> Transport Layer ->
Network Layer) -ANSWER-Application Layer -> Transport Layer -> Internet Layer -> Network
Layer
( Explanation )
As a packet is generated the packet goes from the Application Layer to the Transport Layer to
the Internet Layer and finally to the Network Layer.
Which type of event classification is missed by a NIDS and has the most potential to be a
serious event?
True positive - False positive - True negative - False negative -ANSWER-False negative
( Explanation )
• False negative: A false negative event is when the IDS identifies data as benign when, in
fact, it is malicious. A false negative does not generate an alert for the analyst and therefore
these can be dangerous because the analyst cannot take action.• True negative: A true
negative event is what we want the IDS to see, the cases where data does not indicate any
malicious activity, and the data is correct. In the case of a true negative, the IDS does
notgenerate an alert for the analyst.• True positive: In these cases, the IDS worked as
intended and correctly flagged the activity asanomalous behavior that might be malicious.
True positives generate alerts for the analyst to process.• False positive: A false positive case
is where the IDS generates an alert flagging hostile activity,which was benign. False positives
generate alerts for the analyst to process, who then must decide how to handle the activity.
Which access control mechanism requires a high amount of maintenance since all data must
be classified, and all users granted appropriate clearance?
Mandatory - Role-Based - Ruleset-based - Discretionary
