CompTIA Software Troubleshooting Practice Test 2 — Questions and Answers

Question 1: When a user starts his computer web browser, he receives many pop-ups. What type of malicious software could it be?

worm
adware (Correct answer)
Trojan horse
first-day attack

Correct answer: adware

Adware is a type of malicious software designed to automatically display unwanted advertisements, often in the form of pop-up windows, banners, or in-text ads. The symptom of receiving many pop-ups when opening a web browser is a classic indication of an adware infection.

Question 2: To view logs on an iOS device, which of these programs is needed?

Xcode (Correct answer)
iOSLog
Logcat
iOSView

Correct answer: Xcode

Xcode is Apple's integrated development environment (IDE) for macOS, used for developing software for Apple platforms including iOS. It includes various tools for debugging and monitoring iOS devices, allowing developers and technicians to view device logs for troubleshooting and analysis.

Question 3: A user is having trouble connecting his Bluetooth headphones to his smartphone. Which of the following should the user try first?

Perform a hard reset on the mobile device.
Ensure that Bluetooth is turned “on” on the device. (Correct answer)
Put the mobile device into airplane mode.
Reboot the mobile device.

Correct answer: Ensure that Bluetooth is turned “on” on the device.

When troubleshooting connectivity issues with Bluetooth headphones, the most fundamental first step is to ensure that Bluetooth is actually enabled on the smartphone. Many connectivity problems arise from this simple oversight, making it the logical initial check before attempting more complex solutions like resets or reboots.

Question 4: A technician detected malware on a user's computer after investigating symptoms that appeared on the computer. What is the technician's next course of action?

Remediate the infected system.
Run updates on the computer.
Quarantine the infected system. (Correct answer)
Educate the user.

Correct answer: Quarantine the infected system.

After detecting malware, the immediate next step in the remediation process is to quarantine the infected system. Quarantining isolates the compromised system from the rest of the network, preventing the malware from spreading to other devices and minimizing further damage while preparing for its removal.

Question 5: Disappearing files may indicate ____ .

faulty hardware
malware (Correct answer)
hijacked email
network connectivity issues

Correct answer: malware

Disappearing files are a strong indicator of malware activity. Certain types of malware, such as ransomware, wipers, or even some viruses, can encrypt, delete, or hide files on a system as part of their malicious payload, leading to the user perceiving them as 'disappearing'.

Question 6: A technician wants to look at the logs on his Android smartphone. What program could the technician use to look at these logs?

Xcode
AndroidLogApp
AndroidCode
Logcat (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Logcat

Logcat is a command-line tool that dumps a stream of system messages and logs from an Android device. It is an essential utility for developers and technicians to view diagnostic output, errors, and other system information for troubleshooting Android applications and the operating system itself.

Question 7: When a user launched a web browser, she observed that the website did not appear like her usual home page. She also discovered that her default search engine had been replaced by a third-party service she had never heard of. What kind of attack is this user most likely to experience?

phishing
spam
browser redirection (Correct answer)
rogue antivirus

Correct answer: browser redirection

Browser redirection occurs when a user's web browser is hijacked, forcing it to navigate to unwanted websites or use an unauthorized search engine. The symptoms described—the home page changing and the default search engine being replaced—are classic signs of a browser redirection attack, often caused by malware or unwanted browser extensions.

Question 8: This is known as ____. It occurs when a user believes they are downloading a legitimate antivirus program, but the antivirus program turns out to be malware.

rogue antivirus (Correct answer)
ransomware
browser redirection
adware

Correct answer: rogue antivirus

Rogue antivirus is a type of malware that masquerades as legitimate antivirus software. It typically displays fake security alerts, claims to detect numerous threats, and then pressures the user to purchase a 'full version' to remove these non-existent problems, often installing more malware in the process.

Question 9: It takes an extremely long time for a user's computer to boot up. What can be done to help resolve the issue?

Disable Windows updates.
Disable unnecessary programs from startup. (Correct answer)
Update networking drivers.
Replace the network cable.

Correct answer: Disable unnecessary programs from startup.

A common cause of slow computer boot-up times is an excessive number of programs configured to launch automatically at startup. Disabling unnecessary programs from the startup sequence reduces the workload on the system during boot, allowing it to start up much faster.

Question 10: Which mobile device management deployment model makes use of corporate-owned devices and prescribes software installation and maintenance actions?

CYOD
COBO (Correct answer)
BYOD
COPE

Correct answer: COBO

COBO stands for Corporate-Owned, Business Only. In this mobile device management model, the company owns the devices, and their use is strictly limited to business purposes. The organization has full control over software installation, maintenance, and security policies.

Question 11: You prefer to work on your laptop rather than your 4G tablet. Wi-Fi is available on your laptop. What would you put on your laptop to keep connected while traveling?

Cellular card (Correct answer)
Bluetooth
GPS
Wi-Fi extender

Correct answer: Cellular card

A cellular card (also known as a mobile broadband card or adapter) allows a laptop to connect to the internet using cellular data networks (like 4G or 5G). This provides internet connectivity in locations where Wi-Fi is unavailable, making it ideal for staying connected while traveling.

Question 12: Identify the three major categories of mobile applications.

Native Application, Cloud Application, Local Application (Correct answer)
Web Application, Gaming Apps, Educational Apps
Hybrid Application, WhatsApp, Productivity apps
Native Application, Web Application, Hybrid Application

Correct answer: Native Application, Cloud Application, Local Application

The three major categories of mobile applications are Native Applications (developed specifically for a mobile OS like iOS or Android), Cloud Applications (web-based applications accessed via a browser or thin client, with most processing done remotely), and Local Applications (installed on the device, which can include native apps or locally stored web apps).

Question 13: What can you do if a program is not responding to any commands and appears to be locked up?

using the RUN command and typing the name of the program
open Task Manager, select the task that has stopped responding, and click End Task (Correct answer)
open Task Manager, select the task that has stopped responding, and click End Task
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

Correct answer: open Task Manager, select the task that has stopped responding, and click End Task

If a program is unresponsive and locked up, the most effective way to terminate it in Windows is to use the Task Manager. By opening Task Manager, selecting the frozen application under the 'Processes' or 'Applications' tab, and clicking 'End Task,' you can force the program to close.

Question 14: Which is an online site, requiring Windows 8 or higher, where you can download apps, games, software, and more?

Google App Store
Boot Camp
Task Manager
Windows Store (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Windows Store

The Windows Store is Microsoft's official digital distribution platform for apps, games, and other software for Windows devices. It was introduced with Windows 8 and continues to be the primary marketplace for downloading applications on Windows 8 and higher operating systems.

Question 15: What is the name of the area at the bottom of a Mac OS X screen where, by default, a bar of crucial icons appears?

bootmgr
keychain
driver
dock (Correct answer)

Correct answer: dock

The Dock is a prominent graphical user interface element found at the bottom of the screen in Mac OS X (now macOS). It serves as a launcher for applications, a repository for minimized windows, and a quick access point for frequently used files and folders.

Question 16: Which editions of Windows 7 can create a HomeGroup? (choose four)

Windows 7 enterprise and ultimate
Windows 12 Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise, Ultimate
Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise, Ultimate (Correct answer)
Windows 14 Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise, Ultimate

Correct answer: Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise, Ultimate

In Windows 7, the HomeGroup feature, which simplifies file and printer sharing among networked computers, was available in the Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions. The Starter and Home Basic editions of Windows 7 did not support creating a HomeGroup.

Question 17: What is a packet filter?

replay attack
pro and enterprise
allows all packets to enter the network
prevents unauthorized packets from entering the network (Correct answer)

Correct answer: prevents unauthorized packets from entering the network

A packet filter is a network security mechanism, often part of a firewall, that examines the header of data packets as they attempt to enter or leave a network. It prevents unauthorized packets from entering the network by blocking those that do not meet predefined security rules, based on criteria like source/destination IP address, port number, and protocol.

Question 18: Which of the following network locations disables network discovery in Windows Vista?

private
libraries
public (Correct answer)
static

Correct answer: public

In Windows Vista (and later versions), the 'Public' network location profile is designed for untrusted networks, such as those in coffee shops or airports. When set to 'Public,' network discovery is automatically disabled, and the firewall applies the most restrictive settings to protect the computer from potential threats on the network.

CompTIA Software Troubleshooting Practice Test 2

When a user starts his computer web browser, he receives many pop-ups.
What type of malicious software could it be?