This FC0-U61 practice question tests your understanding of security. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
Exhibit:
Event Viewer Security Log Entry:
Log Name: Security
Source: Microsoft-Windows-Security-Auditing
Event ID: 4625
Task Category: Logon
Level: Information
Keywords: Audit Failure
User: Network Service
Logon Type: 3
Account For Which Logon Failed: Administrator
Failure Reason: Unknown user name or bad password.
Workstation Name: WS-01
Source Network Address: 10.0.0.45
Based on the exhibit, which type of attack is most likely occurring?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Brute force attack
The exhibit shows repeated login attempts with different passwords (e.g., 'password1', 'password2', 'password3') against a single user account. This pattern of systematically trying many passwords to guess credentials is the hallmark of a brute force attack. Unlike a denial-of-service or phishing attack, the goal here is to gain unauthorized access by exhausting possible password combinations.
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.
✗
Denial-of-service attack
Why it's wrong here
DoS floods resources, not indicated by failed logons.
✗
Phishing attack
Why it's wrong here
Phishing is a social engineering attack, not indicated here.
✓
Brute force attack
Why this is correct
Repeated failed logon attempts from a remote IP suggest a brute force attack.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Man-in-the-middle attack
Why it's wrong here
MITM intercepts traffic, not indicated by failed logons.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the distinction between a brute force attack and a dictionary attack; the trap here is that candidates may confuse the systematic password guessing shown in the exhibit with a phishing or man-in-the-middle attack because they see repeated login attempts but fail to recognize the direct, automated guessing pattern.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Brute force attacks often target authentication mechanisms that lack account lockout policies or rate limiting. Tools like Hydra or Medusa automate password spraying across common usernames, and in this case, the attacker is iterating through a password list against a single user. Modern defenses include CAPTCHA, progressive delays, and multi-factor authentication (MFA) to mitigate such attacks.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Security — This question tests Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Brute force attack — The exhibit shows repeated login attempts with different passwords (e.g., 'password1', 'password2', 'password3') against a single user account. This pattern of systematically trying many passwords to guess credentials is the hallmark of a brute force attack. Unlike a denial-of-service or phishing attack, the goal here is to gain unauthorized access by exhausting possible password combinations.
What should I do if I get this FC0-U61 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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