CAS-004 Security Operations Practice Question
A security team is implementing deception technology to detect attackers inside the network. They plan to deploy fake systems that appear vulnerable and attract attackers. Which of the following is an example of a honeytoken?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is conflating honeytokens with honeypots or honeynets — candidates pick the decoy system or decoy network because they sound similar, but a honeytoken is specifically a discrete data artifact (credential, file, key) whose access triggers an alert.
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
✓
A fake database credential file that triggers an alert when opened
A honeytoken is a piece of decoy data or a credential artifact — such as a fake database credential file, API key, or document — that has no legitimate use, so any access to it signals malicious activity and triggers an alert. Option D describes exactly this: a fake credential file that fires an alert when opened. The other options describe broader deception constructs (honeynets, honeypots, fake DNS records) rather than a discrete token of data.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
A network segment with multiple decoy systems
Why it's wrong here
A decoy network segment is a honeynet — an environment of multiple fake systems — not a honeytoken, which is a single tracked artefact such as a credential or file. Honeynets are the right choice when you want to observe attacker behaviour across an entire simulated subnet.
- ✗
A fake DNS entry for a non-existent domain
Why it's wrong here
A fake DNS entry is a decoy record, not a honeytoken; honeytokens are unique, monitored artefacts like credentials, files or database rows whose access signals intrusion. Fake DNS records suit DNS-sinkhole or domain-takedown scenarios rather than token-based access alerting.
- ✗
A virtual machine running a vulnerable web server
Why it's wrong here
A vulnerable virtual machine is a honeypot — a decoy host designed to attract and study attackers — not a honeytoken, which is a discrete tracked artefact. Honeypots are correct when you want full attacker interaction and behavioural capture on a system.
- ✓
A fake database credential file that triggers an alert when opened
Why this is correct
A honeytoken is a decoy artefact, not a full system, that alerts on unauthorised access. A planted credential file triggers detection the moment an attacker opens or exfiltrates it, satisfying the requirement for a lure that reveals insider intrusion without exposing real assets.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
This CAS-005 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 CAS-005 exam.