CompTIA Network+ Practice Test (N10-009)

Implementing strong encryption protocols ensures that even if data packets are intercepted during transmission, the contents remain secure and unreadable to unauthorized users. Encryption is a direct countermeasure to on-path attacks by protecting the data in transit, which is likely being targeted in the described scenario.

Why the other answers are incorrect:

• Updating antivirus software, though essential for overall security, does not directly address the interception of data in transit.
• Improving physical security is generally aimed at protecting the hardware and environment, not the data transmitted between nodes.
• Changing network device passwords adds a layer of security but would not protect from interception already occurring.
• Enabling network firewalls helps block unauthorized access to networks but might not be sufficient if the data is being intercepted through a compromised but authorized channel.

Giant frames often stem from a configuration disparity in MTU sizes between network devices. If the server is set to use an MTU that exceeds the capabilities of the switch interface, the frames are identified as giants due to their larger size exceeding standard Ethernet frame limits. Adjusting the MTU settings on the server or the switch to ensure uniformity can correct this issue.

Other provided answers, although feasible issues in a network, do not specifically result in the transmission of giant frames. MTU mismatch directly contributes to this problem by creating frames that the receiving device categorizes as 'giant' due to size incompatibility.

The correct answer identifies the main function of the ipconfig command, which is to display all current TCP/IP network configuration values and refresh Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) and Domain Name System (DNS) settings. Wrong answers suggest functionality that is associated with other commands or actions not relevant to ipconfig, such as monitoring devices or modifying network configurations directly.

Channels 1, 6, and 11 are spaced far enough apart in the 2.4 GHz band that their 20 MHz-wide signals do not overlap, eliminating adjacent-channel interference. Using any other channel combinations (such as 2, 7, 12 or 1, 5, 9, 13) would cause portions of the frequency ranges to overlap, reducing throughput for every network in range. Channels 36, 40, and 44 are part of the 5 GHz spectrum and therefore do not solve the problem in a 2.4 GHz deployment.

A collapsed core design combines the functionality of both the core and distribution layers into a single layer. This model is advantageous in smaller networks due to reduced hardware needs and simplified management. While all of the other answers describe possible configurations in a network, they either describe other types of networks, mix up hierarchical layers, or add elements not specific to collapsed core networks, such as direct connections from devices to a centralized hub.

Static routing involves manual entry of routes into a network router's routing table by the network administrator. This method depends on pre-determined paths set by the admin and does not change unless manually updated. This contrasts with dynamic routing where routes are automatically updated based on changes in the network.

Configuring a switch port speed to 100 Mbps on a connection where the connected devices support gigabit speeds will lead to a significant bottleneck. The port will limit the transmission speed to 100 Mbps, thereby underutilizing the gigabit capability of the connected devices and potentially causing network congestion due to slower data transfer rates. This misconfiguration does not directly involve protocol compatibility or increase noise levels, and it also won't necessarily result in complete data loss unless other factors are at play.

Isolating personal devices used for work in a separate network segment significantly reduces the risk of leaking sensitive data and the spread of potential threats across the corporate network. This method allows for more controlled and monitored access to resources while maintaining a strong security posture. In contrast, 'Enabling a guest Wi-Fi' does not offer sufficient control or security measures for devices that need to use corporate resources. 'Only allowing personal devices access to the Internet and not to internal systems' also limits functionality without necessarily improving security for tasks that require intranet access. 'Deploying antivirus software on all personal devices' is beneficial, but not sufficient on its own as it does not address network-level threats and segregation.

This statement is false. In a three-tier hierarchical model, security processes such as firewall management and intrusion detection are not primarily handled at the core layer. Instead, the core layer's main function is to provide fast and reliable connectivity across the network, focusing on high-speed switching and efficient data transport. Security processes are typically managed at the distribution layer, where security and policy-based network decisions are enforced, and at the perimeter or edge, where additional security appliances might be deployed.

The correct answer is that the principle of least privilege minimizes the potential damage from a compromised account. This security principle involves giving a user account only those privileges that are essential to perform its intended function. The primary security benefit is to reduce the attack surface and limit the damage that can be caused by a malicious actor or a compromised account. While it is a critical security control, it does not prevent all breaches, necessarily simplify authentication, or primarily serve as a logging mechanism.

The correlation of events to identify security incidents is a sophisticated utilization of log aggregation. By aggregating logs from various sources, network operators can apply correlation techniques to analyze patterns and interactions across the logs, allowing them to identify potential security threats or operational anomalies that are not apparent when viewing logs in isolation. The incorrect answers, while related to general network management tasks, do not specifically utilize the intrinsic benefits of log aggregation on a sophisticated level.

The prefix length specifies the number of bits that are designated for the network portion of an address. This definition is crucial because it helps determine the subnet mask, which is essential for defining the boundaries of a network segment and for efficient routing.

Static routing involves manually configuring routes in a router's routing table. These routes remain fixed and do not adjust to topology changes unless an administrator edits or replaces them. This manual, unchanging nature distinguishes static routing from dynamic routing protocols that automatically discover and update routes. Therefore, the correct response is the option stating that routes are manually configured and do not change unless manually updated. The other options describe behaviors associated with dynamic routing or centralized route control, which do not apply to static routing.

Broadcast traffic is used to send data to all devices on a network segment and does not require prior knowledge of each device's network address. It's essential for tasks such as discovering devices or services within a network segment. ARP requests are a common example where a device needs to map an IP address to a MAC address and sends a broadcast query to all devices in the local network segment, expecting a response from the device owning the address. The other answer choices, 'Communicating between two specific hosts', 'Encrypting data packets in network communications', and 'Speeding up Internet browsing speeds', do not aptly describe broadcast traffic usages. Particularly, specific host communication typically uses unicast, encryption pertains to security not traffic type, and speeding up browsing is unrelated to broadcast functionality.

The standard Ethernet frame size under the IEEE 802.3 specification has a minimum length of 64 bytes and a maximum length of 1518 bytes. This range includes the header and trailer but excludes the Layer 1 preamble and Start Frame Delimiter. The maximum payload, or Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU), is 1500 bytes, and the minimum payload is 46 bytes to meet the 64-byte minimum frame requirement. It is essential for network analysts and administrators to know these details to ensure proper network function and compatibility with various networking devices and protocols. The other answers provided are incorrect as they do not accurately represent the frame sizes specified by the standard.