- A
Searching Pastebin for leaked credentials
Passive: searching public data without target interaction.
- B
Sending SNMP queries to a network device
Why wrong: Active: interacts with target device.
- C
Scanning ports with Nmap
Why wrong: Active: sends probes to target.
- D
Performing a DNS zone transfer attempt
Why wrong: Active: sends DNS query to target's server.
- E
Using crt.sh to view SSL certificates
Passive: querying public certificate transparency logs.
Question 144 of 1,000
PT0-002 Practice Question: Information Gathering and Vulnerability Scanning
This PT0-002 practice question tests your understanding of information gathering and vulnerability scanning. 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.
A penetration tester wants to perform passive reconnaissance on a target organization. Which two activities are considered passive reconnaissance? (Choose TWO.)
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
✓
Searching Pastebin for leaked credentials
Option A is correct because searching Pastebin for leaked credentials involves collecting information from publicly accessible sources without directly interacting with the target's systems. This is a classic passive reconnaissance technique, as it relies on third-party data and does not generate any network traffic to the target organization.
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.
- ✓
Searching Pastebin for leaked credentials
Why this is correct
Passive: searching public data without target interaction.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Sending SNMP queries to a network device
Why it's wrong here
Active: interacts with target device.
- ✗
Scanning ports with Nmap
Why it's wrong here
Active: sends probes to target.
- ✗
Performing a DNS zone transfer attempt
Why it's wrong here
Active: sends DNS query to target's server.
- ✓
Using crt.sh to view SSL certificates
Why this is correct
Passive: querying public certificate transparency logs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'publicly available information' with 'active probing'—for example, assuming that querying crt.sh or Pastebin is active because it involves a web request, when in fact it is passive because the request goes to a third-party service, not the target's own systems.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Passive reconnaissance relies on OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) sources such as certificate transparency logs (crt.sh), Pastebin, Shodan, and public DNS records. The key distinction is that no packets are sent to the target's own IP addresses or infrastructure; instead, the attacker leverages data already exposed to the public. This approach avoids generating logs on the target's firewalls, IDS/IPS, or DNS servers, making it harder to detect during the initial reconnaissance phase.
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 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
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PT0-002 question test?
Information Gathering and Vulnerability Scanning — This question tests Information Gathering and Vulnerability Scanning — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Searching Pastebin for leaked credentials — Option A is correct because searching Pastebin for leaked credentials involves collecting information from publicly accessible sources without directly interacting with the target's systems. This is a classic passive reconnaissance technique, as it relies on third-party data and does not generate any network traffic to the target organization.
What should I do if I get this PT0-002 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This PT0-002 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 PT0-002 exam.
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