Cybersecurity Interview Questions Part -2
                     TOP
CYBER
SECURITY
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
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Interview
Questions
1 Differentiate between Hashing & Salting?
Hashing
Hashing is a one-way technique; data is confined to a 
fixed-length value and is mainly used for authentication.
Salting
Hashing requires an additional step called salting, which 
gives passwords that modify the generated hash value 
more excellent value.
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2 SSL vs. HTTPS:  which one is more secure?
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure is what HTTPS stands 
for, and it is the fundamental Internet protocol used by 
websites on browsers. The secure variant of the HTTP
protocol is HTTPS, and all data transferred using the
protocol is entirely safe because it is encrypted.
Secure socket layers are referred to as SSL. The
encryption of the Internet security protocol is done by SSL, 
which is essentially a component of the HTTPS protocol. 
Data integrity, confidentiality, and availability to only
authorized users are its responsibilities.
3  What is a Brute Force Attack?
It is a hacking method that makes use of trial and error to 
break encryption keys, passwords, and login credentials. 
It is a straightforward but effective strategy for
unauthorized access to user accounts, company
systems, and networks. Until they discover the correct 
login information, the hacker tries a variety of usernames 
and passwords, frequently utilizing a computer to test a 
wide range of combinations.
“Brute Force” refers to attacks that utilize excessive force 
to obtain user accounts. Despite being a tried-and-true 
type of hacking, brute force attacks continue to be a
favorite among hackers.
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4 What do you mean by risk, vulnerability, andthreat in a network?
Antivirus software detects, stops and removes viruses 
from a computer. After installation, most antivirus
programs run in the background to provide real-time 
protection against Cyberattacks.
Risk
An organization’s risk profile changes as a result of
internal and external environmental factors. It takes into 
account the possibility or potential of a harmful
occurrence and the possible effects that event might 
have on your infrastructure.
Vulnerabilities
Your surroundings and your assets have weak points, or 
vulnerabilities, making you more vulnerable to threats 
and higher risk. And unfortunately, a company may have 
thousands, sometimes even millions, of openness, and it 
is impossible to fix them all.
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Threats
The Cybersecurity landscape is disrupted by an endless 
stream of potential threats, ranging from Ransomware 
that locks up your systems and malware that inserts 
deadly executables into your software. All of these
dangers search for a way in and a weakness in your
environment that they may take advantage of.
5  What do “white hat,” “black hat,” and “grey hat”hackers mean?
Antivirus software detects, stops and removes viruses 
from a computer. After installation, most antivirus
programs run in the background to provide real-time 
protection against Cyberattacks.
White hat hackers
assist authorities, businesses, security agencies, and
individual users. They are typically employed by a
company that requires them to monitor potential
exposure locations.
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Black hat hackers
 are dishonest people who employ hacking techniques to 
get consumer data, business trade secrets, government 
secrets, and any other information they may use for 
harm.
Grey hat hackers
are unaware that security and hacking are rarely 
black-and-white issues. Grey hat hackers embrace a 
more complex world by combining “good” and “evil.” For 
just this reason, some people use them.
6  What is Cognitive Cybersecurity?
The concept of cognitive Cybersecurity is to use artificial 
intelligence to enhance digital security systems. AI in
security is anticipated to significantly improve
comprehensive security in systems currently exposed to 
various risks from hackers and other malicious attackers.
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7 What is a phishing attack and how can it beprevented?
The fraudulent use of electronic communications to trick 
and exploit users is known as phishing. Phishing attacks 
aim to obtain private information such as usernames, 
passwords, credit card numbers, login credentials for 
networks, and more. Cyber attackers employ social
engineering to trick victims into taking specified actions, 
including clicking on a harmful link or attachment or
willingly disclosing sensitive information by assuming the 
identity of a trustworthy person or organization over the 
phone or via email.
Prevention tips:
Know what a phishing scam looks like.
Don’t click on that link.
Get free anti-phishing add-ons.
Don’t provide your information to an untrusted website.
Change passwords regularly
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8 How will you stay current on the latestCybersecurity news?
Follow security professionals’ blogs and news sites.
Search social media for subjects relating to security.
Examine advisory websites, and vulnerability alert feeds.
Observe live Cybersecurity events
9 How do you define compliance in terms ofCybersecurity?
Cybersecurity compliance is an organizational risk
management strategy that complies with pre-
established security controls and safeguards about the 
administrational procedures used to maintain data
confidentiality. Determining and accomplishing IT goals 
as well as reducing threats through methods like
vulnerability management, are all made easier with its 
assistance.
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10 What does a Cybersecurity risk assessmentrequire?
Assessing the risks associated with assets that
Cyberattacks might impact is known as Cybersecurity 
risk assessment. You have to recognize internal and
external threats, determine how they might affect issues 
like data availability, confidentiality, and integrity, and 
calculate the costs associated with experiencing a
Cybersecurity catastrophe. Using the information
supplied, you can adjust your Cybersecurity and data 
protection controls to fit the actual level of risk tolerance 
for your organization.
11 What is BIOS?
BIOS is a ROM chip found on all motherboards that allows 
you to access and configure your computer system at 
the most basic level. Phoenix is an excellent example of a 
BIOS manufacturer.
12 What is RDP or Remote Desktop Protocol?
The Microsoft RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) protocol 
was created to secure and encrypt application data 
transfers between client devices, users, and a virtual
network server.
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13 What are the many indicators of compromise(IOC) that organizations need to keep an eye on?
Unusual Outbound Network Traffic
HTML Response Sizes
Geographical Irregularities
Increases in Database Read Volume
Log-In Red Flags
Unexpected Patching of Systems
14 Differentiate between the Red team and theBlue team?
An attacker who takes advantage of security gaps in a 
company is known as a” red team.”
A defense that spots vulnerabilities and fixes them to
prevent successful intrusions is known as the “blue 
team.”
Red teams are offensive security specialists specializing 
in defending defenses and attacking systems. Defensive 
security experts on blue teams keep internal network 
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defenses up to date against all Cyberattacks and threats. 
To evaluate the efficacy of the network’s security, red 
teams simulate attacks against blue teams. These red 
and blue team exercises offer a comprehensive security 
approach that ensures substantial barriers while keeping 
an eye on changing threats.
15  Describe MITM attacks and how to avoid them?
Man-in-the-Middle” (MITM) attack occurs when a hacker 
inserts himself into the middle of a conversation between 
two people to acquire their data.
The following procedures can help you avoid
MITM attacks:
Use VPN
Utilize powerful WEP/WPA encryption.
Detect intrusions using IDS
Require HTTPS
Based on Public Key Pair Authentication
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16 What is an ARP?
The Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) is a
communication protocol used to identify the link-layer 
address, like a MAC address, connected to a particular 
internet layer address, which is commonly an IPv4
address. An essential part of the Internet protocol suite is 
this mapping. RFC 826, which defines Internet Standard 
STD 37, defined ARP in 1982.
Numerous network and data link layer technologies,
including IPv4, Chaosnet, DECnet, and Xerox PARC
Universal Packet, have been used to implement ARP.
17 Describe System hardening?
System hardening generally refers to a collection of tools 
and approaches for managing vulnerabilities in an
organization’s systems, applications, firmware, and other 
areas. System hardening reduces security risks by limiting 
potential attacks and shrinking the system’s attack
surface.
The following are the various types of system
hardening:
Database hardening
Operating system hardening
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Application hardening
Server hardening
Network hardening
18 Why is accessing free WiFi dangerous?
Hackers are drawn to free WiFi hotspots for the same 
reasons that customers are; primarily, the lack of
authentication needed to establish a network
connection. As a result, the hacker has a fantastic
opportunity to gain unrestricted access to unprotected 
devices connected to the same network.
The capacity of the hacker to place himself between you 
and the connection point poses the biggest threat to the 
security of free WiFi. You communicate with the hacker, 
who would then pass the information to the hotspot 
rather than the hotspot directly.
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19 What is HIDS?
Host-based intrusion detection system (HIDS) is a device 
that keeps track of activities on a computer system on 
which it has been placed to spot intrusions and misuse. 
Then it logs the actions and alerts the appropriate
authorities. A HIDS can be compared to an agent that 
checks to see if anything or anyone, internal or external, 
has violated the system’s security policy.
20 What is NIDS?
An organization can monitor its cloud, on-premise, and 
hybrid systems for suspicious occurrences that can point 
to a compromise with the aid of a network-based
intrusion detection system. This includes
communications with unknown sources and destinations, 
port scanning, and policy infractions.
21 What is the difference between informationprotection and information assurance?
Information assurance, or IA, ensures and controls the 
risks associated with sensitive data while it is being sent, 
processed, and stored. Data protection in the system’s 
integrity, availability, authenticity, non-repudiation, and 
confidentiality is the primary goal of information
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assurance. It includes physical approaches in addition to 
digital measures for data protection.
On the other hand, information security is a practice that 
involves reducing information risks to secure information. 
Typically, it reduces the risk of data theft or other unlawful 
uses, as well as the destruction, discovery, modification, 
inspection, or recording of sensitive data. It entails taking 
steps to avoid such occurrences. Information security’s 
primary goal is to secure data while retaining its
confidentiality, integrity, and availability against
Cyberattacks and hackers.
22 How frequently should patch managementbe done?
When a patch is released, it should be managed. When a 
patch for Windows is released, it should be installed on all 
devices no later than one month later. The same would 
be valid for network devices; patch them as soon as they 
are available. Patch management procedures should be 
followed.
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23 What is SQL Injection, and how to prevent it?
An injection attack known as SQL Injection (SQLi) enables 
the execution of malicious SQL commands. These
commands manage a database server in front of a web 
application. SQL Injection vulnerabilities allow attackers to 
get around application security safeguards. The entire 
content of a SQL database can be retrieved by getting 
past authentication and authorization of a web page or 
online application. They can also add, alter, and delete 
records in the database using SQL Injection.
You can prevent SQL Injection attacks by using
the following practices:
Use prepared statements
Use Stored Procedures
Validate user input
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