200-201 Security Concepts Practice Question
A security analyst is investigating a network breach. Which TWO activities are examples of passive reconnaissance? (Choose two.)
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Reviewing LinkedIn profiles of employees
Passive reconnaissance involves gathering information without directly interacting with the target, such as searching public records and social media.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Reviewing LinkedIn profiles of employees
Why this is correct
Social media review is a passive information gathering technique.
- ✗
Sending ping sweeps to identify live hosts
Why it's wrong here
Ping sweeps actively probe targets.
- ✗
Using a vulnerability scanner to find weaknesses
Why it's wrong here
Vulnerability scanning is active reconnaissance.
- ✓
Searching WHOIS records for domain registration details
Why this is correct
WHOIS records are publicly available and queried without interacting with the target's systems.
- ✗
Performing a port scan on the target network
Why it's wrong here
Port scanning is active reconnaissance.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This 200-201 question is part of Courseiva's 979-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 200-201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-201 exam.