CompTIA A+ Certification Exam: Core 2 Practice Questions

Closing the browser immediately is the correct first response to a certificate error that appears to be a phishing attempt. The security warning indicates that the website's certificate was not issued by a trusted authority and was issued for a different website address, which are classic signs of a malicious site attempting to impersonate a legitimate service. By closing the browser, the HR Manager prevents any potential malicious scripts from executing and avoids accidentally entering credentials on a fraudulent site. This immediate action contains the potential security breach and prevents further exposure to the threat. Additional steps like reporting to IT security and verifying the legitimate payroll system URL should follow.

Manually checking each machine is the most effective way to detect this unknown threat across the network. Since the antivirus software is not detecting this particular malware variant, automated scanning tools will likely miss it on other systems as well. A manual inspection allows the technician to look for the specific indicators observed on the first machine: unusual processes with random filenames, elevated system resource usage, and unfamiliar executables running in memory. This hands-on approach can identify the malware before it causes performance issues or spreads further. The technician can check running processes, startup programs, and system performance metrics on each machine to identify infected systems.

Ease of Access is the Windows utility specifically designed for accessibility modifications, including cursor customization for users with visual impairments. This utility provides comprehensive options for changing mouse pointer size, color, and contrast to improve visibility for users with limited vision. The Ease of Access settings include options for larger cursors, high-contrast pointers, and colored cursors that are easier to see against various backgrounds. This centralized accessibility hub ensures that all visual assistance features are available in one location, making it the appropriate tool for addressing accessibility needs rather than general mouse settings.

Implementing single sign-on (SSO) with biometric authentication directly addresses the root cause of forgotten passwords by eliminating the need to remember multiple passwords. SSO allows users to authenticate once and gain access to multiple applications and devices without repeatedly entering credentials. Combined with biometric authentication (fingerprint, facial recognition, or iris scanning), this solution provides both security and convenience. Biometrics cannot be forgotten like passwords, significantly reducing helpdesk tickets related to password resets. This approach improves user experience while maintaining security standards and reducing IT support overhead.

SSH (Secure Shell) is the correct method for troubleshooting a Linux server when the GUI is unstable. SSH provides secure command-line access to remote systems, allowing administrators to diagnose and fix issues without relying on the graphical desktop environment. Since the desktop environment is crashing, SSH bypasses the GUI entirely and provides direct access to the underlying operating system. This allows the administrator to check system logs, restart services, monitor processes, and perform other troubleshooting tasks using Linux command-line tools such as ps, top, systemctl, and log analysis commands.