Question 1easymultiple choice
Full question →easymultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A penetration tester wants to identify the operating system of a remote host without sending any traffic to the target network. Which of the following techniques is most effective for this purpose?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
Perform an nmap OS fingerprint scan on the host.
Nmap sends packets to the target, which is active reconnaissance, not passive.
B
Best answer
Use Shodan to search for the host's IP address and examine the service banners.
Shodan provides information gathered from previous scans, allowing for passive OS identification.
C
Distractor review
Send a ping sweep to the host's network segment.
Ping sweeps generate network traffic to determine live hosts, not OS details.
D
Distractor review
Use ARP scanning to discover the host's MAC address and look up the vendor.
ARP scanning is active and provides only MAC vendor information, not the OS.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
Related practice questions
Related PT0-002 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A penetration tester is writing the executive summary for a report. The client's CEO needs to understand the business impact of a critical SQL injection vulnerability. Which of the following should the tester include?
Question 2
A penetration tester has gained a low-privileged shell on a Linux server. During enumeration, the tester discovers a binary with the SUID bit set that belongs to root and is known to have a buffer overflow vulnerability. What is the MOST effective next step to escalate privileges?
Question 3
A penetration tester is performing passive reconnaissance against a target domain. Which of the following resources can be used to gather information about the target without directly sending packets to the target's network? (Select two.) (Choose 2.)
Question 4
A penetration tester has obtained a TGT from a domain controller by cracking the krbtgt hash. Which attack can the tester now perform to gain persistent administrative access to any resource in the domain?
Question 5
A penetration tester is writing the executive summary for the final report. The CEO needs to understand the overall risk level and the business impact of the findings. Which of the following should be included in the executive summary?
Question 6
A penetration tester is writing the executive summary of a penetration test report. Which of the following elements is MOST important to include for a non-technical audience?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PT0-002 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use Shodan to search for the host's IP address and examine the service banners. — Shodan is a search engine that indexes internet-connected devices and their banners from previous scans. By querying the target IP address on Shodan, a tester can retrieve OS information from historical data without sending any packets to the target. This is a passive reconnaissance technique. Nmap OS fingerprinting, ping sweeps, and ARP scanning all require active probes.
What should I do if I get this PT0-002 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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