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FC0-U71 Practice Question: A user wants to prevent unauthorized access to…
A user wants to prevent unauthorized access to their laptop if stolen. Which is the best method?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse authentication (password) with encryption (BitLocker), assuming a strong password alone protects data against physical theft, but it only protects against casual login attempts, not direct disk access.
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
✓
Enable BitLocker
BitLocker is a full-disk encryption feature built into Windows that encrypts the entire drive, making data inaccessible without the decryption key. If the laptop is stolen, the thief cannot read any files even if they remove the hard drive and connect it to another system. This directly prevents unauthorized access to data, unlike other options that only protect against network or software threats.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Antivirus
Why it's wrong here
Antivirus detects and removes malicious software during normal operation; it does not block a thief who boots the laptop from other media or reads the disk directly. It is the correct control against malware infection, not against physical theft of the device.
- ✗
Use a strong password
Why it's wrong here
A strong password only gates the login screen; a thief can remove the drive, boot from external media or reinstall the OS to reach the data. Full-disk encryption with a pre-boot credential is required, though a strong password is the right answer for protecting an online account.
- ✗
Firewall
Why it's wrong here
A firewall filters network traffic entering or leaving the host; it cannot stop an attacker with physical possession from booting alternate media or mounting the drive elsewhere. It is the right answer for restricting inbound connections, not for protecting data on a stolen laptop.
- ✓
Enable BitLocker
Why this is correct
BitLocker encrypts the entire drive, so removing the disk or booting another operating system yields only ciphertext. The pre-boot authentication requirement blocks access without the correct credentials, directly preventing unauthorised data access on a stolen laptop.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This FC0-U71 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 FC0-U71 exam.