The answer is man-in-the-middle attacks. Unauthorized remote desktop tools frequently bypass the encryption and authentication standards enforced by approved solutions like RDP with Network Level Authentication or SSH, leaving the session vulnerable to interception. An attacker positioned between the employee’s workstation and the legacy application server can capture, decrypt, or alter the data stream, often stealing credentials or sensitive information without detection. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this question tests your understanding of remote access security controls and the specific threats that arise when unapproved tools are used. A common trap is confusing this with malware or data loss, but the core risk is the lack of encrypted tunneling, which directly enables man-in-the-middle attacks. Remember the mnemonic “MITM on Rogue RDP” to link unauthorized remote tools with intercepted traffic.
220-1202 Remote Access Technologies Practice Question
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of remote access technologies. 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.
During a security audit, a technician discovers that an employee has been using a third-party remote desktop tool without IT approval. The employee claims it was necessary to access a legacy application. Which security risk is most directly associated with unauthorized remote access tools?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Man-in-the-middle attacks
Unauthorized remote desktop tools often lack the encryption and authentication controls found in approved solutions like SSH or RDP with Network Level Authentication. This exposes the connection to man-in-the-middle attacks, where an attacker can intercept, decrypt, or modify the traffic between the employee's workstation and the legacy application server, potentially capturing credentials or sensitive data.
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.
✗
Increased bandwidth usage
Why it's wrong here
While possible, bandwidth usage is a performance issue, not a direct security risk.
✓
Man-in-the-middle attacks
Why this is correct
Unauthorized tools may not use strong encryption, exposing sessions to interception and manipulation.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Compatibility issues with the operating system
Why it's wrong here
Compatibility is a technical problem, not a security risk.
✗
Increased licensing costs
Why it's wrong here
Licensing costs are a financial concern, not a direct security risk.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the distinction between operational issues (bandwidth, compatibility, cost) and actual security threats, so candidates mistakenly choose a non-security answer like increased bandwidth usage because it sounds like a plausible downside of remote access tools.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Man-in-the-middle attacks on unencrypted remote desktop protocols like VNC or older RDP versions can be executed using tools such as Ettercap or Bettercap to perform ARP spoofing, redirecting traffic through the attacker's machine. Even if the tool uses TLS, improper certificate validation (e.g., ignoring self-signed certificate warnings) leaves the session vulnerable to interception. In a real-world scenario, an attacker on the same subnet could capture the employee's domain credentials and use them for lateral movement within the network.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 220-1202 question in full detail.
Remote Access Technologies — This question tests Remote Access Technologies — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Man-in-the-middle attacks — Unauthorized remote desktop tools often lack the encryption and authentication controls found in approved solutions like SSH or RDP with Network Level Authentication. This exposes the connection to man-in-the-middle attacks, where an attacker can intercept, decrypt, or modify the traffic between the employee's workstation and the legacy application server, potentially capturing credentials or sensitive data.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 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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Question Discussion
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