This CS0-003 practice question tests your understanding of security operations. 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 TWO of the following are common indicators of compromise (IOCs) that can be identified through log analysis?
Unexpected changes to file hashes
Indicates possible malware modification.
Expired SSL certificates
Why wrong: Configuration issue, not necessarily compromise.
Scheduled backup completion logs
Why wrong: Normal operational activity.
Use of strong passwords
Why wrong: A security control, not an IOC.
Unusual outbound network connections
Indicates potential data exfiltration.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Unexpected changes to file hashes
Unexpected changes to file hashes (A) are a key indicator of compromise because they suggest that a file has been modified, potentially by malware or an attacker. Log analysis can detect these changes by comparing current file hashes against a known-good baseline, revealing unauthorized alterations that may indicate a security breach.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Unexpected changes to file hashes
Why this is correct
Indicates possible malware modification.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Expired SSL certificates
Why it's wrong here
Configuration issue, not necessarily compromise.
Scheduled backup completion logs
Why it's wrong here
Normal operational activity.
Use of strong passwords
Why it's wrong here
A security control, not an IOC.
Unusual outbound network connections
Why this is correct
Indicates potential data exfiltration.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
CompTIA often tests the distinction between operational anomalies (like expired certificates) and true security indicators (like hash changes), expecting candidates to recognize that only events directly tied to unauthorized access or malicious modification qualify as IOCs.
Detailed technical explanation
File hash monitoring typically uses algorithms like SHA-256 or MD5 to create a unique fingerprint of a file. In a real-world scenario, an attacker might replace a legitimate system binary (e.g., lsass.exe) with a malicious version, causing a hash mismatch that triggers an alert in a SIEM or file integrity monitoring (FIM) tool like Tripwire or OSSEC. This technique is foundational to detecting rootkits or ransomware that modify critical files.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Security Operations — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Security Operations practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All CS0-003 questions
503 questions across all exam domains
CompTIA CySA+ CS0-003 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
CS0-003 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise CS0-003 questions linked to Security Operations.
Practise CS0-003 questions linked to Vulnerability Management.
Practise CS0-003 questions linked to Incident Response and Management.
Practise CS0-003 questions linked to Reporting and Communication.
Practise CS0-003 questions linked to CompTIA A+ hardware.
Practise CS0-003 questions linked to CompTIA A+ mobile devices.
Practise CS0-003 questions linked to CompTIA A+ networking.
Practise CS0-003 questions linked to CompTIA A+ operating systems.
Practise CS0-003 questions linked to CompTIA A+ security.
Practise CS0-003 questions linked to CompTIA A+ software troubleshooting questions.
Practise CS0-003 questions linked to CompTIA A+ operational procedures questions.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Unexpected changes to file hashes — Unexpected changes to file hashes (A) are a key indicator of compromise because they suggest that a file has been modified, potentially by malware or an attacker. Log analysis can detect these changes by comparing current file hashes against a known-good baseline, revealing unauthorized alterations that may indicate a security breach.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This CS0-003 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 CS0-003 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.