SSCP Network and Communications Security Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of network and communications security. 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.
Exhibit
Proto Local Address Foreign Address State
TCP 192.168.1.100:49152 203.0.113.10:80 ESTABLISHED
TCP 192.168.1.100:49153 192.168.1.1:53 TIME_WAIT
TCP 192.168.1.100:49154 74.125.224.72:443 ESTABLISHED
Refer to the exhibit. Which of the following is most likely a web browsing session?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Proto Local Address Foreign Address State
TCP 192.168.1.100:49152 203.0.113.10:80 ESTABLISHED
TCP 192.168.1.100:49153 192.168.1.1:53 TIME_WAIT
TCP 192.168.1.100:49154 74.125.224.72:443 ESTABLISHED
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Both A and C
Option D is correct because both A and C represent typical web browsing sessions: A uses HTTP on port 80, and C uses DNS on port 53, which is essential for resolving domain names before a web request can be made. Web browsing inherently involves DNS queries to translate hostnames to IP addresses, making both sessions part of the browsing activity.
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.
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the misconception that web browsing only involves HTTP (port 80) and ignores the essential DNS resolution step, leading candidates to overlook DNS queries as part of the browsing session.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Web browsing sessions are defined by application-layer protocols: HTTP (port 80) and HTTPS (port 443) are the primary protocols for fetching web content, while DNS (port 53) resolves domain names to IP addresses. In practice, a single web page load triggers multiple DNS queries (e.g., for CDN resources) and multiple HTTP/HTTPS connections, so both A and C are part of the browsing process. The exhibit likely shows a packet capture where the DNS query precedes the HTTP request, illustrating the dependency.
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 security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
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.
Network and Communications Security — This question tests Network and Communications Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Both A and C — Option D is correct because both A and C represent typical web browsing sessions: A uses HTTP on port 80, and C uses DNS on port 53, which is essential for resolving domain names before a web request can be made. Web browsing inherently involves DNS queries to translate hostnames to IP addresses, making both sessions part of the browsing activity.
What should I do if I get this SSCP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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