SSCP Systems and Application Security Practice Question
In Linux, which command is used to change file permissions to restrict access so that only the owner can read and write, and the group and 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 600 file.txt
The chmod command changes file permissions. The octal mode 600 sets read/write for owner, no permissions for group and others.
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 600 file.txt
Why this is correct
chmod 600 sets owner rw, group and others nothing.
- ✗
chown 600 file.txt
Why it's wrong here
chown changes ownership, not permissions.
- ✗
umask 077 file.txt
Why it's wrong here
umask sets default permissions for new files, not for existing ones.
- ✗
setfacl -m u::rw file.txt
Why it's wrong here
setfacl modifies ACLs, which is more granular but not the standard simple command.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This SSCP practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 SSCP exam.