Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →Question 817 of 1,010
Quick Answer
The answer is log manipulation, the correct technique for covering tracks when an attacker modifies system logs to remove evidence of their activities. This is because log manipulation directly involves altering, deleting, or falsifying log entries to hide the forensic footprint of an intrusion, effectively erasing the digital breadcrumbs that would reveal unauthorized access or commands. On the Certified Ethical Hacker CEH exam, this concept tests your understanding of the covering tracks phase, where attackers aim to avoid detection by security teams and forensic tools; a common trap is confusing it with log clearing, but manipulation includes subtle edits like removing specific timestamps or IP addresses rather than wiping entire files. To remember this, think of the mnemonic "M.A.D." for Modify, Alter, Delete—the three core actions of log manipulation that attackers use to hide their activity.
CEH Enumeration and System Hacking Practice Question
This CEH practice question tests your understanding of enumeration and system hacking. 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.
An attacker modifies system logs to remove entries related to their activities. Which technique is being used to cover tracks?
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
✓
Log manipulation
Log manipulation is the act of altering or deleting log entries to hide evidence of an intrusion. This is part of the covering tracks phase.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related CEH NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CEH question test?
Enumeration and System Hacking — This question tests Enumeration and System Hacking — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Log manipulation — Log manipulation is the act of altering or deleting log entries to hide evidence of an intrusion. This is part of the covering tracks phase.
What should I do if I get this CEH question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related CEH NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
This CEH practice question is part of Courseiva's free EC-Council 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 CEH exam.
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