Question 481 · 856 in bank
During an internal penetration test, a security analyst identified a network device that had accepted cleartext authentication and was configured with a default credential. Which of the following recommendations should the security analyst make to secure this device?
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Answer: C
Explanation
C. Configure SNMPv3. In this scenario, the security analyst discovered a network device with cleartext authentication and a default credential. To secure the device, the best recommendation is to configure SNMPv3. SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) is commonly used for network monitoring and management. SNMPv1 and SNMPv2c use cleartext authentication, which means that the credentials are transmitted without encryption, making them vulnerable to eavesdropping and potential credential theft. SNMPv3 is the most secure version of SNMP and provides several security features, including data encryption, message integrity, and authentication. It uses technologies such as HMAC (Hash-based Message Authentication Code) and encryption algorithms to protect sensitive information, making it the preferred choice when securing network devices and preventing unauthorized access or misuse.
Source: Adapted from community discussion — ApplebeesWaiter1122