Top 50 Cyber Security Interview Questions

1. What is Cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity refers to the practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks. These attacks are usually aimed at accessing, changing, or destroying sensitive information, extorting money from users, or interrupting normal business processes.

2. What are the different types of cybersecurity threats?

The different types of cybersecurity threats include:

Malware
Phishing
Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attack
Denial-of-Service (DoS) attack
SQL Injection
Zero-day exploit
Advanced Persistent Threats (APT)

3. What is a firewall and how does it work?

A firewall is a network security device that monitors and filters incoming and outgoing network traffic based on an organization’s previously established security policies. A firewall acts as a barrier between a trusted internal network and untrusted external networks, such as the internet.

4. Explain the difference between IDS and IPS.

An Intrusion Detection System (IDS) monitors network traffic for suspicious activity and issues alerts when such activity is discovered. An Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) not only detects but also takes action to prevent the detected threats by blocking the malicious activity.

5. What is a VPN and why is it used?

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) extends a private network across a public network, enabling users to send and receive data securely across shared or public networks. It is used to enhance security, protect online privacy, and allow secure access to remote resources.

6. What is encryption and why is it important?

Encryption is the process of converting plaintext into ciphertext, making it unreadable to unauthorized users. It is important because it protects the confidentiality of digital data stored on computer systems or transmitted over the internet or other computer networks.

7. What is the difference between symmetric and asymmetric encryption?

Symmetric encryption uses the same key for both encryption and decryption. Asymmetric encryption uses a pair of keys, one for encryption (public key) and another for decryption (private key).

8. What is a brute force attack?

A brute force attack involves trying all possible combinations of passwords or keys until the correct one is found. It is a trial-and-error method used to decode encrypted data such as passwords or Data Encryption Standard (DES) keys.

9. What is a DDoS attack and how can it be mitigated?

A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack involves multiple compromised systems attacking a single target, causing a denial of service for users of the targeted system. Mitigation techniques include traffic analysis, rate limiting, and using DDoS protection services.

10. What is a man-in-the-middle attack?

A man-in-the-middle (MitM) attack occurs when an attacker secretly intercepts and relays messages between two parties who believe they are communicating directly with each other. This type of attack can be mitigated using encryption and secure communication protocols.

11. Explain the concept of Zero Trust Security.

Zero Trust Security is a security model based on strict access controls that do not trust any entity, whether inside or outside the network perimeter. It requires verification of every user and device attempting to access resources within a network.

12. What are the OWASP Top 10?

The OWASP Top 10 is a standard awareness document for web application security. It represents a broad consensus about the most critical security risks to web applications, including:

Injection
Broken Authentication
Sensitive Data Exposure
XML External Entities (XXE)
Broken Access Control
Security Misconfiguration
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
Insecure Deserialization
Using Components with Known Vulnerabilities
Insufficient Logging & Monitoring

13. What is social engineering?

Social engineering is the psychological manipulation of people into performing actions or divulging confidential information. It relies on human interaction to trick users into breaking normal security procedures.

14. What is SQL Injection and how can it be prevented?

SQL Injection is a code injection technique that exploits a security vulnerability in an application’s software by manipulating SQL queries. It can be prevented by using parameterized queries, stored procedures, and input validation.

15. What is a honeypot?

A honeypot is a security mechanism that creates a decoy system to attract cyber attackers and study their activities. It helps in detecting, deflecting, and analyzing attempts to gain unauthorized access to information systems.

16. What is multi-factor authentication (MFA)?

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a security process that requires more than one method of authentication from independent categories of credentials to verify the user’s identity for a login or other transaction.

17. What is phishing?

Phishing is a type of social engineering attack often used to steal user data, including login credentials and credit card numbers, by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication.

18. Explain the CIA triad.

The CIA triad stands for Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability. These are the three core principles of cybersecurity:

Confidentiality: Ensuring that information is not disclosed to unauthorized individuals.
Integrity: Maintaining the accuracy and completeness of information.
Availability: Ensuring that information and resources are available to authorized users when needed.

19. What is the difference between black hat, white hat, and grey hat hackers?

Black Hat Hackers: Malicious hackers who exploit vulnerabilities for personal gain or to cause harm.
White Hat Hackers: Ethical hackers who use their skills to find and fix security vulnerabilities.
Grey Hat Hackers: Hackers who may violate ethical standards or laws but do not have malicious intent.

20. What is a security policy?

A security policy is a set of rules and practices that specify how an organization manages and protects its information assets. It outlines the security measures and protocols to be followed to ensure the security of data and systems.

21. What is an attack vector?

An attack vector is a path or means by which a hacker can gain access to a computer or network server to deliver a malicious payload or outcome. Examples include malware, phishing, and social engineering.

22. What is a digital certificate?

A digital certificate is an electronic document used to prove the ownership of a public key. It is issued by a trusted certificate authority (CA) and contains the public key along with information about the key owner and the CA.

23. Explain the concept of defense in depth.

Defense in depth is a cybersecurity strategy that employs multiple layers of defense to protect information. If one layer fails, the subsequent layers provide additional protection, creating a more robust security posture.

24. What is a security breach?

A security breach occurs when an attacker gains unauthorized access to an organization’s data, applications, networks, or devices. It typically results in the exposure, theft, or destruction of sensitive information.

25. What is a botnet?

A botnet is a network of infected computers, or “bots,” controlled by an attacker. Botnets are often used to carry out DDoS attacks, send spam, and engage in other malicious activities.

26. What is penetration testing?

Penetration testing, or pen testing, is a simulated cyberattack on a computer system to evaluate its security. The goal is to identify and fix vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them.

27. What is a vulnerability assessment?

A vulnerability assessment is the process of identifying, quantifying, and prioritizing vulnerabilities in a system. It involves scanning the system for weaknesses that could be exploited by attackers.

28. Explain the difference between risk, threat, and vulnerability.

Risk: The potential for loss or damage when a threat exploits a vulnerability.
Threat: Any circumstance or event with the potential to cause harm to an information system.
Vulnerability: A weakness in a system that can be exploited by a threat.

29. What is the principle of least privilege?

The principle of least privilege states that users should be granted the minimum level of access – or permissions – needed to perform their job functions. This minimizes the risk of accidental or deliberate misuse of data and resources.

30. What is a secure software development lifecycle (SDLC)?

A secure SDLC integrates security practices into each phase of the software development process, from planning and design to coding, testing, and deployment. This ensures that security is considered at every stage of development.

31. What is data masking?

Data masking is a technique used to hide original data with modified content (characters or other data). The main purpose is to protect sensitive data while ensuring that it is still usable for testing or analysis.

32. What is endpoint security?

Endpoint security refers to the practice of securing endpoints or entry points of end-user devices such as desktops, laptops, and mobile devices from being exploited by malicious actors. It involves a combination of security measures such as antivirus, anti-malware, and firewall.

33. What is the role of a CISO?

A Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is a senior-level executive responsible for developing and implementing an information security program, which includes procedures and policies designed to protect enterprise communications, systems, and assets from both internal and external threats.

34. What is a security operations center (SOC)?

A Security Operations Center (SOC) is a centralized unit that deals with security issues on an organizational and technical level. The SOC is responsible for monitoring, detecting, responding to, and mitigating security incidents.

35. What is an incident response plan?

An incident response plan is a set of instructions designed to help organizations detect, respond to, and recover from network security incidents. It covers procedures for identifying, mitigating, and managing the effects of a security breach.

36. What is a sandbox?

A sandbox is a security mechanism used to run untested or untrusted programs or code in a controlled environment. It helps to isolate the program from the system to prevent any potential harm it may cause.

37. What is a security token?

A security token is a physical or digital device used to authenticate a user’s identity. Examples include hardware tokens, software tokens, and one-time password (OTP) tokens.

38. What is the difference between vulnerability scanning and penetration testing?

Vulnerability scanning is an automated process that identifies known vulnerabilities in a system, while penetration testing is a manual process where testers actively attempt to exploit vulnerabilities to assess their potential impact.

39. What is a denial-of-service (DoS) attack?

A denial-of-service (DoS) attack aims to make a system or network resource unavailable to its intended users by overwhelming it with a flood of illegitimate requests, thereby disrupting normal service.

40. What is cryptography?

Cryptography is the practice of securing information by transforming it into an unreadable format, known as ciphertext, using algorithms and keys. It ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of the information.

41. What is a security patch?

A security patch is an update released by software vendors to fix vulnerabilities discovered in their products. Applying patches promptly is crucial to protect systems from exploits targeting these vulnerabilities.

42. What is role-based access control (RBAC)?

Role-based access control (RBAC) is a method of regulating access to resources based on the roles of individual users within an organization. Users are assigned roles with specific permissions, allowing them to access only the resources necessary for their job functions.

43. What is two-factor authentication (2FA)?

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a security process that requires two different forms of identification to verify a user’s identity. This typically involves something the user knows (password) and something the user has (security token or mobile device).

44. What is an SSL certificate?

An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate is a digital certificate that authenticates a website’s identity and enables an encrypted connection between a web server and a web browser. SSL certificates are used to secure online transactions and protect sensitive information.

45. What is a backdoor?

A backdoor is a method of bypassing normal authentication or encryption in a computer system, often used by attackers to gain unauthorized access to a system while avoiding detection.

46. What is a digital signature?

A digital signature is a mathematical technique used to validate the authenticity and integrity of a message, software, or digital document. It ensures that the document has not been altered and confirms the identity of the signer.

47. What is an insider threat?

An insider threat refers to a security risk that originates from within the organization, typically involving current or former employees, contractors, or business associates who have inside information concerning the organization’s security practices.

48. What is a keylogger?

A keylogger is a type of surveillance software that records every keystroke made on a computer’s keyboard. It is often used by attackers to steal sensitive information such as passwords and credit card details.

49. What is the principle of separation of duties?

The principle of separation of duties involves dividing tasks and privileges among multiple people to reduce the risk of fraud and error. It ensures that no single individual has control over all aspects of a critical process.

50. What is a security awareness training program?

A security awareness training program is an educational initiative designed to inform employees about the importance of cybersecurity and teach them how to recognize and respond to potential security threats. It aims to cultivate a security-conscious culture within the organization.