200-201 Security Concepts Practice Question
A security analyst needs to verify that a downloaded software update has not been tampered with. The update's publisher provides a file containing a hash value. Which process should the analyst use to verify integrity?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between integrity (hash comparison) and authenticity (digital signatures), leading candidates to mistakenly choose digital signature verification when the question only asks about integrity.
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
✓
Compute the file's hash and compare it with the provided hash
Verifying file integrity involves computing a cryptographic hash (e.g., SHA-256) of the downloaded file and comparing it to the hash provided by the publisher. If the hashes match, the file has not been altered; any tampering would produce a different hash value. This is a standard integrity check, not a confidentiality or authentication mechanism.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Decrypt the file using the publisher's public key
Why it's wrong here
Decryption would not verify integrity; hashing is used for integrity.
- ✗
Use a digital signature to sign the file
Why it's wrong here
Signing would be done by the publisher, not the verifier.
- ✓
Compute the file's hash and compare it with the provided hash
Why this is correct
Hash comparison verifies that the file has not been altered.
- ✗
Encrypt the file using the publisher's private key
Why it's wrong here
Encryption provides confidentiality, not integrity verification.
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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.