easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1102 Practice Question: During a security incident, a technician needs to…
During a security incident, a technician needs to verify whether a specific application was granted camera and microphone permissions on a macOS computer. Which macOS tool should they use to check these privacy settings?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse the 'tccutil' command (Option D) as a tool for checking permissions, when in fact it is only used for resetting or modifying the TCC database, not for viewing current permissions.
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
✓
System Settings > Privacy & Security
System Settings > Privacy & Security is the correct tool because macOS centralizes all privacy-related permissions—including camera and microphone access—in this GUI panel. The technician can navigate to the specific application under the Camera and Microphone sub-sections to verify granted permissions. This is the standard, user-facing interface for managing privacy controls on macOS.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Keychain Access
Why it's wrong here
Keychain Access is specifically designed to securely store and manage passwords, cryptographic keys, and digital certificates for applications and services. It does not provide an interface to view or modify application permissions for hardware access, such as the camera or microphone, which are distinct system-level privacy controls. Therefore, a technician would not use Keychain Access to verify app privacy permissions during a security incident.
- ✓
System Settings > Privacy & Security
Why this is correct
System Settings > Privacy & Security is the definitive macOS interface for managing application access to sensitive system resources, including the camera and microphone. During a security incident, a technician can directly navigate to this centralized control panel to view which applications have been explicitly granted or denied these critical permissions. This allows for immediate identification and modification of potentially unauthorized access, making it the primary tool for such verification.
- ✗
Console
Why it's wrong here
Console is primarily a logging utility that displays system messages, diagnostic reports, and activity logs from various macOS processes and applications. While it might contain entries related to permission requests or access events, it does not present a consolidated, user-friendly list of current application privacy permissions for hardware like the camera or microphone. Its function is to review historical events and system health, not to provide an active overview of TCC settings.
- ✗
Terminal with 'tccutil' command
Why it's wrong here
While `tccutil` in Terminal can be used to reset or query the Transparency, Consent, and Control (TCC) database, it is not designed for granular, user-friendly inspection of individual application permissions for camera and microphone access. It is tempting because it interacts with the TCC system, but it's primarily a reset and management tool, not a direct viewer for specific app permissions in a security incident investigation.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
macOS and Linux Basics for A+
Key term
macOS
macOS is the operating system that powers Apple's Mac computers, providing a graphical interface, system management, and security features for users and IT professionals.
Key term
Privacy
Privacy in IT is the control over how personal data is collected, stored, used, and shared by systems and organizations.
About these practice questions
One of 495 original 220-1202 practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1202 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 220-1202 exam.