- A
Windows Defender Firewall
Why wrong: Windows Defender Firewall controls inbound/outbound traffic but does not prevent software from changing system settings.
- B
User Account Control (UAC)
UAC prompts for administrator approval before system changes, which could have blocked the application from modifying settings.
- C
BitLocker Drive Encryption
Why wrong: BitLocker encrypts the drive but does not prevent software from making system changes.
- D
Windows Defender Antivirus
Why wrong: Antivirus software detects malware but may not block legitimate applications from changing system settings.
Question 77 of 750
User Account Control (UAC) and System Setting Protection
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of logical security concepts. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 user reports that they can no longer access the internet after installing a new software application. The technician suspects the application modified system settings. Which security feature could have prevented this?
Quick Answer
The correct answer is User Account Control (UAC) because it is the Windows security feature specifically designed to prevent unauthorized system changes by requiring explicit permission before allowing modifications to protected system settings. When a user installs software that attempts to alter network configurations or other critical system areas, UAC triggers a prompt asking for administrator approval; if the user denies this prompt, the application is blocked from making those changes, thereby safeguarding system integrity. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how UAC acts as a gatekeeper against privilege escalation and unauthorized configuration changes—a common trap is confusing UAC with antivirus software or Windows Defender Firewall, but remember that UAC focuses on permission prompts, not malware scanning. A useful memory tip: think of UAC as the “ask first” guard—if a program tries to change something without asking, UAC steps in to stop it.
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
✓
User Account Control (UAC)
User Account Control (UAC) is the correct answer because it is specifically designed to prevent unauthorized changes to system settings by prompting for administrator approval before allowing software to make modifications that affect system-wide configurations, such as network or security settings. When a new application attempts to modify system settings (e.g., proxy, DNS, or firewall rules) without explicit consent, UAC can block or require elevation, thus preventing the reported internet access issue. This aligns with the scenario where the technician suspects the application altered system settings, as UAC directly controls privilege escalation for such actions.
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.
- ✗
Windows Defender Firewall
Why it's wrong here
Windows Defender Firewall controls inbound/outbound traffic but does not prevent software from changing system settings.
- ✓
User Account Control (UAC)
Why this is correct
UAC prompts for administrator approval before system changes, which could have blocked the application from modifying settings.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
BitLocker Drive Encryption
Why it's wrong here
BitLocker encrypts the drive but does not prevent software from making system changes.
- ✗
Windows Defender Antivirus
Why it's wrong here
Antivirus software detects malware but may not block legitimate applications from changing system settings.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA A+ exams often test the misconception that a firewall (Option A) can prevent unauthorized system modifications, but the trap here is that firewalls only control network traffic, not local system setting changes, which is a distinct security function handled by UAC.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, UAC leverages mandatory integrity control (MIC) and runs all standard user processes at a low integrity level, while system-critical operations require a high-integrity token that must be explicitly granted via a consent prompt. When a new application attempts to modify system settings (e.g., writing to HKLM or system32), the operation fails with an access denied error unless the process is elevated, which triggers the UAC prompt. In real-world scenarios, many users blindly click 'Yes' on UAC prompts, but even that consent logs the elevation event in the security event log (Event ID 4688), providing an audit trail for troubleshooting.
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 junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1202 question test?
Logical Security Concepts — This question tests Logical Security Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: User Account Control (UAC) — User Account Control (UAC) is the correct answer because it is specifically designed to prevent unauthorized changes to system settings by prompting for administrator approval before allowing software to make modifications that affect system-wide configurations, such as network or security settings. When a new application attempts to modify system settings (e.g., proxy, DNS, or firewall rules) without explicit consent, UAC can block or require elevation, thus preventing the reported internet access issue. This aligns with the scenario where the technician suspects the application altered system settings, as UAC directly controls privilege escalation for such actions.
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
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