- A
chmod 640 /etc/app/config.cfg
640 gives owner read/write, group read, and others no access, matching the requirement.
- B
chmod 750 /etc/app/config.cfg
Why wrong: 750 gives owner rwx, group rx, others none; this grants execute permission which is not needed for a config file.
- C
chmod 644 /etc/app/config.cfg
Why wrong: 644 gives owner rw, group r, others r; others would still have read access, which is not desired.
- D
chmod 600 /etc/app/config.cfg
Why wrong: 600 gives owner rw, but group gets no access; the requirement is for group to have read permission.
Question 720 of 750
220-1202 Linux Commands and File Permissions Practice Question
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of linux commands and file permissions. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
During a security audit, you find that a configuration file /etc/app/config.cfg has permissions -rwxrwxrwx. What command should you run to restrict it so only the owner can read and write, and the group can read, while others have no 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
✓
chmod 640 /etc/app/config.cfg
The correct answer is A because the requirement is to set permissions so the owner can read and write (6), the group can read (4), and others have no access (0). The octal representation 640 achieves exactly this: 6 (rw-) for owner, 4 (r--) for group, and 0 (---) for others. This matches the security policy of restricting access to only the owner and group read access.
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.
- ✓
chmod 640 /etc/app/config.cfg
Why this is correct
640 gives owner read/write, group read, and others no access, matching the requirement.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
chmod 750 /etc/app/config.cfg
Why it's wrong here
750 gives owner rwx, group rx, others none; this grants execute permission which is not needed for a config file.
- ✗
chmod 644 /etc/app/config.cfg
Why it's wrong here
644 gives owner rw, group r, others r; others would still have read access, which is not desired.
- ✗
chmod 600 /etc/app/config.cfg
Why it's wrong here
600 gives owner rw, but group gets no access; the requirement is for group to have read permission.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the distinction between 644 and 640, where candidates mistakenly choose 644 because they forget that 'others have no access' means the last digit must be 0, not 4.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The chmod command uses octal notation where each digit represents a 3-bit permission set: read (4), write (2), execute (1). The sum of these values for owner, group, and others forms the three-digit mode. In this scenario, the original 777 permissions are overly permissive and a common security finding; changing to 640 is a standard hardening step for configuration files that should not be world-readable. Note that the execute bit is not needed for a configuration file, so it is correctly omitted.
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 practitioner preparing for the 220-1202 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
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 220-1202 question test?
Linux Commands and File Permissions — This question tests Linux Commands and File Permissions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: chmod 640 /etc/app/config.cfg — The correct answer is A because the requirement is to set permissions so the owner can read and write (6), the group can read (4), and others have no access (0). The octal representation 640 achieves exactly this: 6 (rw-) for owner, 4 (r--) for group, and 0 (---) for others. This matches the security policy of restricting access to only the owner and group read access.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 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 220-1202 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 220-1202 exam.
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