- A
http contains "password"
The 'http contains' filter searches all HTTP fields and payload for the string.
- B
http.request.uri contains "password"
Why wrong: This only checks the URI, not the full payload (e.g., POST data).
- C
data contains "password"
Why wrong: The 'data' filter looks at raw data, but not specifically HTTP packets.
- D
tcp.port == 80 and frame contains "password"
Why wrong: This filter checks the entire frame, not just HTTP payload, and may include false positives.
Question 303 of 1,000
200-201 Security Monitoring Practice Question
This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of security monitoring. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Which Wireshark display filter would an analyst use to view only HTTP packets that contain the word 'password' in the packet payload?
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
✓
http contains "password"
Option A is correct because the `http contains "password"` display filter instructs Wireshark to match any HTTP packet whose payload includes the literal string 'password'. The `contains` operator performs a case-sensitive substring search across the entire HTTP protocol data (headers and body), which is exactly what an analyst needs to locate credentials or sensitive terms in HTTP traffic.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
http contains "password"
Why this is correct
The 'http contains' filter searches all HTTP fields and payload for the string.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
http.request.uri contains "password"
Why it's wrong here
This only checks the URI, not the full payload (e.g., POST data).
- ✗
data contains "password"
Why it's wrong here
The 'data' filter looks at raw data, but not specifically HTTP packets.
- ✗
tcp.port == 80 and frame contains "password"
Why it's wrong here
This filter checks the entire frame, not just HTTP payload, and may include false positives.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between protocol-specific fields (like `http.request.uri`) and the generic protocol tree (`http`), tricking candidates into choosing a filter that is too narrow (B) or too broad (D) instead of the precise `http contains` filter that searches the entire HTTP payload.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Wireshark's `contains` operator performs a byte-by-byte comparison against the field's value, and for the `http` protocol, it searches the reassembled HTTP message (including headers and body) as stored in the packet details tree. In real-world analysis, an attacker might encode 'password' as base64 or split it across TCP segments, so a simple `contains` filter could miss obfuscated data; analysts often combine it with `http.request.method == POST` to focus on login forms or use `frame contains` with regex for more robust detection.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 200-201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-201 question test?
Security Monitoring — This question tests Security Monitoring — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: http contains "password" — Option A is correct because the `http contains "password"` display filter instructs Wireshark to match any HTTP packet whose payload includes the literal string 'password'. The `contains` operator performs a case-sensitive substring search across the entire HTTP protocol data (headers and body), which is exactly what an analyst needs to locate credentials or sensitive terms in HTTP traffic.
What should I do if I get this 200-201 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
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