ISTM 210 Exam 3 [2026/2027] | UPDATED
ACTUAL Exam Question and Answer |
Ultimate Exam Prep
• what are the 4 components of computer security? -✓✓ - risk management
- confidentiality
- integrity
- availability of electronic information
• what is the question concerning computer security? -✓✓ not a question of "if"
something will happen to my computer, but a question of "when" it will happen
• what is risk management? -✓✓ the recognition, consequences, and assessment of risk
to a computer system; you must recognize and assess risks (how much you spend is a
business decision)
• what is a hacker? -✓✓ aka a hacktivist, they are people who attempt to invade or
disable a computer's security measures and steal their resources
• what happens to someone who hacks into the pentagon? -✓✓ they usually get hired
by the pentagon
• is it hard to hack into an unsecured computer? -✓✓ no, often they can attach malicious
things such as viruses, worms, and malware to emails, so when you just read the email
you are releasing an undetectable malicious program
• since security is such a big deal, what must businesses do? -✓✓ vital to take backups
and havea recovery plan in place
• what is the weakest link of a business getting hacked? -✓✓ employees; A&M requires
their employees to do online security training because of this
• how do businesses take advantage of the internet? -✓✓ make an intranet to distribute
and use free browsers; have privacy, guarded by Firewalls
• what is a firewall? -✓✓ specialized hardware and software working together to ensure
that only authorized personnel and employees within a business can use an Intranet,
controlling the flow of data and info between computer networks by opening or closing
ports for transmission protocols like HTTP, email, etc
• what does "mal" mean? -✓✓ bad
• what is an intranet without a firewall? -✓✓ just another part of the internet
,• what is a proxy server? -✓✓ any communications passed in or out of an intranet pass
through this special security computer
• what is a firewall similar to? -✓✓ a fire door keeping fire out (a port is used to contain
and delay structural fire from spreading)
• what is the "default-deny" rule? -✓✓ for a firewall, it is standard to have this on, so that
the only network connections allowed are explicitly stated, but many businesses mess
up and say "default-allow", meaning the only ones blocked are explicitly stated
• what are computer viruses? -✓✓ files that reproduce by making copies of themselves
within a computer's memory, storage, or network
• what is experimental malware? -✓✓ written to combat malware
• what are worms? -✓✓ like viruses but do not need to attach themselves to existing
files to spread, use networks to travel
• what are trojan horses? -✓✓ seem harmless and wait for a computer event to spread
and unleash other malware
• what is spyware? -✓✓ computer program installed covertly and secretly monitors a
user's keystrokes and behavior
• what is adware? -✓✓ typically more irritating than malicious, and usually installed
covertly and automatically display or download advertising to a computer; aka
advertising-supported software
• what is spamming/junk mail? -✓✓ abuse of an email system to arbitrarily send typically
millions of unsolicited bulk messages (brought out CAN SPAM act)
• what is a denial-of-service attack? -✓✓ attempts to make a computer or any of it
resources unavailable to users (aka DoS, backlogs a computer system until it's
unusable, hackers use botnets- aka groups of computers infected with malicious
software- to launch these attacks)
• what is keylogging? -✓✓ watching keystrokes, a type of spyware
• what are metamorphic viruses? -✓✓ like biological viruses, make copies of themselves
• what is malware? -✓✓ programs specifically intended to penetrate or damage a
computer system without the end user's knowledge
, • when are you held responsible for the CAN SPAM act? -✓✓ even if you hire a 3rd
party to send out your spam, you are help responsible if they don't follow the CAN
SPAM act
• what is antivirus software? -✓✓ attempts to identify, prevent, and eliminate computer
viruses/malware by examining computer files and matching them to known viruses
stored in a database
• who needs antivirus sotware? -✓✓ every computer, both stand alone or networked
• what are the top two antivirus softwares? -✓✓ Norton AntiVirus (by Symantics
Corporation) and McAfee's VirusScan
• should all computer files be backed up? -✓✓ ideally yes, but realistically do the things
that are high priority (like inventory numbers), because you can never be 100% sure
you won't get hacked
• does the cloud eliminate the need to back up files? -✓✓ a lot of it yes, but you still
need to back up the local stuff
• how do OS systems handle security? -✓✓ constantly vigilant by automatically offering
online updates or system patches that have been identified as security threats
• do we need the original CD's? -✓✓ yes, keep the ones used to install both system and
application software in case of catastrophic computer failure
• what are strong passwords? -✓✓ longer in length (8-12 characters) with mixed case
letters, number, and special characters
• what is a passphrase? -✓✓ a memorable strong password
• what is internet fraud? -✓✓ a broad term that refers to any fraudulent activity that
occurs in an online setting
• what is identity theft? -✓✓ the crime of assuming another's identity for economic gain
(like stealing credit care numbers)
• what is click fraud? -✓✓ a program that automatically clicks advertising networks ads,
for profit
• what are purchase scams? -✓✓ when an unscrupulous merchant does not deliver
goods or services already paid for online
ACTUAL Exam Question and Answer |
Ultimate Exam Prep
• what are the 4 components of computer security? -✓✓ - risk management
- confidentiality
- integrity
- availability of electronic information
• what is the question concerning computer security? -✓✓ not a question of "if"
something will happen to my computer, but a question of "when" it will happen
• what is risk management? -✓✓ the recognition, consequences, and assessment of risk
to a computer system; you must recognize and assess risks (how much you spend is a
business decision)
• what is a hacker? -✓✓ aka a hacktivist, they are people who attempt to invade or
disable a computer's security measures and steal their resources
• what happens to someone who hacks into the pentagon? -✓✓ they usually get hired
by the pentagon
• is it hard to hack into an unsecured computer? -✓✓ no, often they can attach malicious
things such as viruses, worms, and malware to emails, so when you just read the email
you are releasing an undetectable malicious program
• since security is such a big deal, what must businesses do? -✓✓ vital to take backups
and havea recovery plan in place
• what is the weakest link of a business getting hacked? -✓✓ employees; A&M requires
their employees to do online security training because of this
• how do businesses take advantage of the internet? -✓✓ make an intranet to distribute
and use free browsers; have privacy, guarded by Firewalls
• what is a firewall? -✓✓ specialized hardware and software working together to ensure
that only authorized personnel and employees within a business can use an Intranet,
controlling the flow of data and info between computer networks by opening or closing
ports for transmission protocols like HTTP, email, etc
• what does "mal" mean? -✓✓ bad
• what is an intranet without a firewall? -✓✓ just another part of the internet
,• what is a proxy server? -✓✓ any communications passed in or out of an intranet pass
through this special security computer
• what is a firewall similar to? -✓✓ a fire door keeping fire out (a port is used to contain
and delay structural fire from spreading)
• what is the "default-deny" rule? -✓✓ for a firewall, it is standard to have this on, so that
the only network connections allowed are explicitly stated, but many businesses mess
up and say "default-allow", meaning the only ones blocked are explicitly stated
• what are computer viruses? -✓✓ files that reproduce by making copies of themselves
within a computer's memory, storage, or network
• what is experimental malware? -✓✓ written to combat malware
• what are worms? -✓✓ like viruses but do not need to attach themselves to existing
files to spread, use networks to travel
• what are trojan horses? -✓✓ seem harmless and wait for a computer event to spread
and unleash other malware
• what is spyware? -✓✓ computer program installed covertly and secretly monitors a
user's keystrokes and behavior
• what is adware? -✓✓ typically more irritating than malicious, and usually installed
covertly and automatically display or download advertising to a computer; aka
advertising-supported software
• what is spamming/junk mail? -✓✓ abuse of an email system to arbitrarily send typically
millions of unsolicited bulk messages (brought out CAN SPAM act)
• what is a denial-of-service attack? -✓✓ attempts to make a computer or any of it
resources unavailable to users (aka DoS, backlogs a computer system until it's
unusable, hackers use botnets- aka groups of computers infected with malicious
software- to launch these attacks)
• what is keylogging? -✓✓ watching keystrokes, a type of spyware
• what are metamorphic viruses? -✓✓ like biological viruses, make copies of themselves
• what is malware? -✓✓ programs specifically intended to penetrate or damage a
computer system without the end user's knowledge
, • when are you held responsible for the CAN SPAM act? -✓✓ even if you hire a 3rd
party to send out your spam, you are help responsible if they don't follow the CAN
SPAM act
• what is antivirus software? -✓✓ attempts to identify, prevent, and eliminate computer
viruses/malware by examining computer files and matching them to known viruses
stored in a database
• who needs antivirus sotware? -✓✓ every computer, both stand alone or networked
• what are the top two antivirus softwares? -✓✓ Norton AntiVirus (by Symantics
Corporation) and McAfee's VirusScan
• should all computer files be backed up? -✓✓ ideally yes, but realistically do the things
that are high priority (like inventory numbers), because you can never be 100% sure
you won't get hacked
• does the cloud eliminate the need to back up files? -✓✓ a lot of it yes, but you still
need to back up the local stuff
• how do OS systems handle security? -✓✓ constantly vigilant by automatically offering
online updates or system patches that have been identified as security threats
• do we need the original CD's? -✓✓ yes, keep the ones used to install both system and
application software in case of catastrophic computer failure
• what are strong passwords? -✓✓ longer in length (8-12 characters) with mixed case
letters, number, and special characters
• what is a passphrase? -✓✓ a memorable strong password
• what is internet fraud? -✓✓ a broad term that refers to any fraudulent activity that
occurs in an online setting
• what is identity theft? -✓✓ the crime of assuming another's identity for economic gain
(like stealing credit care numbers)
• what is click fraud? -✓✓ a program that automatically clicks advertising networks ads,
for profit
• what are purchase scams? -✓✓ when an unscrupulous merchant does not deliver
goods or services already paid for online
