PCCET Exam Dumps - Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician

 A rootkit is a type of malware that enables cyber criminals to gain access to and infiltrate data from machines without being detected. It covers software toolboxes designed to infect computers, give the attacker remote control, and remain hidden for a long period of time1 One of the most prominent characteristics of a rootkit is that it cannot be detected by antivirus because of its masking techniques. A rootkit may be able to subvert the software that is intended to find it, such as by hooking system calls, modifying kernel objects, or tampering with the registry2 Another prominent characteristic of a rootkit is that it takes control of the operating system. A rootkit may install itself in the kernel or the firmware of the device, giving it the highest level of privilege and access. A rootkit may also replace the bootloader or the BIOS of the machine, making it difficult to remove. A rootkit can use its control over the operating system to launch other malware, such as ransomware, bots, keyloggers, or trojans34 References:

• 1: What Is a Rootkit? How to Defend and Stop Them? | Fortinet
• 2: Rootkit - Wikipedia
• 3: What Is a Rootkit? – Microsoft 365
• 4: What is Rootkit? Attack Definition & Examples - CrowdStrike

Routing protocols are defined at the network layer (Layer 3) of the OSI model. The network layer is responsible for routing packets across different networks using logical addresses (IP addresses). Routing protocols are used to exchange routing information between routers and to determine the best path for data delivery. Some examples of routing protocols are BGP, OSPF, RIP, and EIGRP. Palo Alto Networks devices support advanced routing features using the Advanced Routing Engine1. References: Advanced Routing - Palo Alto Networks | TechDocs, What Is Layer 7? - Palo Alto Networks, How to Configure Routing Information Protocol (RIP)

A botnet is a network of computers or devices that are infected by malware and controlled by a malicious actor, known as the botmaster or bot-herder. The botmaster uses a command and control (C2) server or channel to send instructions to the bots and receive information from them. The C2 communication is essential for the botmaster to maintain control over the botnet and use it for various malicious purposes, such as launching distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, stealing data, sending spam, or mining cryptocurrency. Therefore, the key to “taking down” a botnet is to prevent the bots from communicating with the C2 server or channel. This can be done by disrupting, blocking, or hijacking the C2 communication, which can render the botnet ineffective, unstable, or inaccessible. For example, security researchers or law enforcement agencies can use techniques such as sinkholing, domain name system (DNS) poisoning, or domain seizure to redirect the bot traffic to a benign server or a dead end, cutting off the connection between the bots and the botmaster. Alternatively, they can use techniques such as reverse engineering, decryption, or impersonation to infiltrate the C2 server or channel and take over the botnet, either to disable it, monitor it, or use it for good purposes. References:

• What is a Botnet? - Palo Alto Networks
• Botnet Detection and Prevention Techniques | A Quick Guide - XenonStack
• Botnet Mitigation: How to Prevent Botnet Attacks in 2024 - DataDome
• What is a Botnet? Definition and Prevention | Varonis

Security Operations (SecOps) is the process of coordinating and aligning security teams and IT teams to improve the security posture of an organization. SecOps involves implementing and maintaining security controls, technologies, policies, and procedures to protect the organization from cyber threats and incidents. When dealing with a known attack, SecOps must take the following action: document, monitor, and track the incident. This action is important because it helps SecOps to:

•Record the details of the attack, such as the source, target, impact, timeline, and response actions.

•Monitor the status and progress of the incident response and recovery efforts, as well as the ongoing threat activity and indicators of compromise.

•Track the performance and effectiveness of the security controls and technologies, as well as the lessons learned and improvement opportunities. References:

•Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician (PCCET)

•6 Incident Response Steps to Take After a Security Event - Exabeam

•Dealing with Cyber Attacks–Steps You Need to Know | NIST

 If an endpoint does not know how to reach its destination, it will send data to the specified default gateway. A default gateway is a device that routes traffic from a local network to other networks or the internet. The endpoint will use the default gateway’s IP address as the next hop for packets that are destined for unknown or remote networks. The default gateway will then forward the packets to the appropriate destination or another gateway, based on its routing table. References:

• Fundamentals of Network Security, Module 2: Networking Concepts, Lesson 2: IP Addressing and Routing1
• PCCET Study Guide, Section 2.2: Describe IP Addressing and Routing2

● Application (Layer 7 or L7): This layer identifies and establishes availability of communication partners, determines resource availability, and synchronizes communication.

● Presentation (Layer 6 or L6): This layer provides coding and conversion functions (such as data representation, character conversion, data compression, and data encryption) to ensure that data sent from the Application layer of one system is compatible with the Application layer of the receiving system.

● Session (Layer 5 or L5): This layer manages communication sessions (service requests and service responses) between networked systems, including connection establishment, data transfer, and connection release.

● Transport (Layer 4 or L4): This layer provides transparent, reliable data transport and

end-to-end transmission control.

Knowledge-based systems and behavior-based systems are two types of artificial intelligence systems that can be used for security purposes. Knowledge-based systems use a predefined database of rules, facts, and patterns that distinguish “bad” or malicious activities from normal ones. They compare the incoming data with the stored knowledge and flag any anomalies or matches. Behavior-based systems, on the other hand, learn from the observed data and establish a baseline of normal behavior. They then monitor the data for any deviations or changes from the baseline and alert on any suspicious or abnormal activities. References:

•Types of Knowledge-Based Systems - Springer

•Difference between Knowledge-based IDS and behavior-based IDS

•Behaviour-based Knowledge Systems: An Epigenetic Path from Behaviour to …