- (Topic 1)
Considerations of privacy, invasiveness, and psychological and physical comfort when using the system are important elements for which of the following?
Correct Answer:
B
Acceptability refers to considerations of privacy, invasiveness, and psychological and physical comfort when using the system.
Source: KRUTZ, Ronald L. & VINES, Russel D., The CISSP Prep Guide: Mastering the Ten Domains of Computer Security, 2001, John Wiley & Sons, Page 39.
- (Topic 2)
Which of the following is most concerned with personnel security?
Correct Answer:
B
Many important issues in computer security involve human users, designers, implementers, and managers.
A broad range of security issues relates to how these individuals interact with computers and the access and authorities they need to do their jobs. Since operational controls address security methods focusing on mechanisms primarily implemented and executed by people (as opposed to systems), personnel security is considered a form of operational control.
Operational controls are put in place to improve security of a particular system (or group of systems). They often require specialized expertise and often rely upon management activities as well as technical controls. Implementing dual control and making sure that you have more than one person that can perform a task would fall into this category as well.
Management controls focus on the management of the IT security system and the management of risk for a system. They are techniques and concerns that are normally addressed by management.
Technical controls focus on security controls that the computer system executes. The controls can provide automated protection for unauthorized access of misuse, facilitate detection of security violations, and support security requirements for applications and data.
Reference use for this question:
NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4 http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-53r4 You can get it as a word document by clicking HERE
NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4 has superseded the document below:
SWANSON, Marianne, NIST Special Publication 800-26, Security Self-Assessment Guide for Information Technology Systems, November 2001 (Page A-18).
- (Topic 1)
A confidential number used as an authentication factor to verify a user's identity is called a:
Correct Answer:
A
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.
- (Topic 5)
Which of the following terms can be described as the process to conceal data into another file or media in a practice known as security through obscurity?
Correct Answer:
A
It is the art and science of encoding hidden messages in such a way that no one, apart from the sender and intended recipient, suspects the existence of the message or could claim there is a message.
It is a form of security through obscurity.
The word steganography is of Greek origin and means "concealed writing." It combines the Greek words steganos (), meaning "covered or protected," and graphei () meaning "writing."
The first recorded use of the term was in 1499 by Johannes Trithemius in his Steganographia, a treatise on cryptography and steganography, disguised as a book on magic. Generally, the hidden messages will appear to be (or be part of) something else: images, articles, shopping lists, or some other cover text. For example, the hidden message may be in invisible ink between the visible lines of a private letter.
The advantage of steganography over cryptography alone is that the intended secret
message does not attract attention to itself as an object of scrutiny. Plainly visible encrypted messages, no matter how unbreakable, will arouse interest, and may in themselves be incriminating in countries where encryption is illegal. Thus, whereas cryptography is the practice of protecting the contents of a message alone, steganography is concerned with concealing the fact that a secret message is being sent, as well as concealing the contents of the message.
It is sometimes referred to as Hiding in Plain Sight. This image of trees blow contains in it another image of a cat using Steganography.
ADS Tree with Cat inside
C:\Users\MCS\Desktop\1.jpg
This image below is hidden in the picture of the trees above:
C:\Users\MCS\Desktop\1.jpg Hidden Kitty
As explained here the image is hidden by removing all but the two least significant bits of each color component and subsequent normalization.
ABOUT MSF and LSF
One of the common method to perform steganography is by hiding bits within the Least Significant Bits of a media (LSB) or what is sometimes referred to as Slack Space. By modifying only the least significant bit, it is not possible to tell if there is an hidden message or not looking at the picture or the media. If you would change the Most Significant Bits (MSB) then it would be possible to view or detect the changes just by looking at the picture. A person can perceive only up to 6 bits of depth, bit that are changed past the first sixth bit of the color code would be undetectable to a human eye.
If we make use of a high quality digital picture, we could hide six bits of data within each of the pixel of the image. You have a color code for each pixel composed of a Red, Green, and Blue value. The color code is 3 sets of 8 bits each for each of the color. You could change the last two bit to hide your data. See below a color code for one pixel in binary format. The bits below are not real they are just example for illustration purpose:
RED GREEN BLUE
0101 0101 1100 1011 1110 0011
MSB LSB MSB LSB MSB LSB
Let's say that I would like to hide the letter A uppercase within the pixels of the picture. If we convert the letter "A" uppercase to a decimal value it would be number 65 within the ASCII table , in binary format the value 65 would translet to 01000001
You can break the 8 bits of character A uppercase in group of two bits as follow: 01 00 00 01
Using the pixel above we will hide those bits within the last two bits of each of the color as follow:
RED GREEN BLUE
0101 0101 1100 1000 1110 0000
MSB LSB MSB LSB MSB LSB
As you can see above, the last two bits of RED was already set to the proper value of 01, then we move to the GREEN value and we changed the last two bit from 11 to 00, and finally we changed the last two bits of blue to 00. One pixel allowed us to hide 6 bits of
data. We would have to use another pixel to hide the remaining two bits. The following answers are incorrect:
- ADS - Alternate Data Streams: This is almost correct but ADS is different from steganography in that ADS hides data in streams of communications or files while Steganography hides data in a single file.
- Encryption: This is almost correct but Steganography isn't exactly encryption as much as using space in a file to store another file.
- NTFS ADS: This is also almost correct in that you're hiding data where you have space to do so. NTFS, or New Technology File System common on Windows computers has a feature where you can hide files where they're not viewable under normal conditions. Tools are required to uncover the ADS-hidden files.
The following reference(s) was used to create this question: The CCCure Security+ Holistic Tutorial at http://www.cccure.tv and
Steganography tool and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steganography
- (Topic 4)
If your property Insurance has Replacement Cost Valuation (RCV) clause your damaged property will be compensated:
Correct Answer:
B
RCV is the maximum amount your insurance company will pay you for damage to covered property before deducting for depreciation. The RCV payment is based on the current cost to replace your property with new, identical or comparable property.
The other choices were detractor:
Application and definition of the insurance terms Replacement Cost Value (RCV), Actual Cash Value (ACV) and depreciation can be confusing. It’s important that you understand the terms to help settle your claim fairly.
An easy way to understand RCV and ACV is to think in terms of “new” and “used.” Replacement cost is the item's current price, new. “What will it cost when I replace it?” Actual cash is the item's used price, old. “How much money is it worth since I used it for five years?”
Hold Back
Most policies only pay the Actual Cash Value upfront, and then they pay you the “held back” depreciation after you incur the expense to repair or replace your personal property items.
NOTE: You must remember to send documentation to the insurance company proving you’ve incurred the additional expense you will be reimbursed.
Actual Cash Value (ACV)
ACV is the amount your insurance company will pay you for damage to covered property after deducting for depreciation. ACV is the replacement cost of a new item, minus depreciation. If stated as a simple equation, ACV could be defined as follows: ACV=RCV- Depreciation
Unfortunately, ACV is not always as easy to agree upon as a simple math equation. The ACV can also be calculated as the price a willing buyer would pay for your used item.
Depreciation
Depreciation (sometimes called “hold back”) is defined as the “loss in value from all causes, including age, and wear and tear.” Although the definition seems to be clear, in our experience, value” as a real-world application is clearly subjective and varies widely. We have seen the same adjuster apply NO depreciation (100 percent value) on one claim and 40 percent depreciation almost half value) on an almost identical claim.
This shows that the process of applying depreciation is subjective and clearly negotiable. Excessive Depreciation
When the insurance company depreciates more than they should, it is called “Excessive
depreciation.” Although not ethical, it is very common. Note any items that have excessive depreciation and write a letter to your insurance company.
References:
http://carehelp.org/downloads/category/1-insurance- handouts.html?download=17%3Ahandout08-rcv-and-acv and http://www.schirickinsurance.com/resources/value2005.pdf and
TIPTON, Harold F. & KRAUSE, MICKI, information Security Management Handbook, 4th Edition, Volume 1
Property Insurance overview, Page 587.