- A
Run 'chage -M 60 appuser' and then 'passwd -e appuser' to expire the password immediately.
Why wrong: Does not prevent the user from changing the password.
- B
Run 'chage -M 60 -d 0 appuser' and then 'usermod -r appuser' to make it a system account.
Why wrong: usermod -r removes the user from groups and may break application.
- C
Run 'chage -M 60 -d 0 appuser' and then 'passwd -l appuser' to lock the password, ensuring that the application uses sudo to run commands as appuser.
Why wrong: Locking password prevents any password authentication; requiring sudo may be more disruptive than using SSH keys.
- D
Run 'chage -M 60 -W 7 appuser' and then modify /etc/shadow to set the password field to '!', and configure the application to use SSH keys for authentication.
Disables password authentication and prevents password changes; SSH keys allow access; password expiry becomes moot.
LFCS User and Group Management Practice Question
This LFCS practice question tests your understanding of user and group management. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
Your company has a server that hosts a critical application. The application runs under a service account 'appuser'. Due to a security audit, it was discovered that 'appuser' has a password that never expires, which is against company policy. The policy requires that all user passwords expire after 60 days. Additionally, the application developers have requested that 'appuser' should not be allowed to change its own password via the 'passwd' command to prevent accidental lockouts. You need to enforce password expiry for 'appuser' but also ensure that only root can change its password. Which of the following approaches is the best course of action?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Clue:
"never"Why it matters: Absolute qualifier. True only if the statement has zero exceptions — be cautious of options that seem obvious but break down in edge cases.
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
Run 'chage -M 60 -W 7 appuser' and then modify /etc/shadow to set the password field to '!', and configure the application to use SSH keys for authentication.
Option C is the best. By setting the password to '!' in /etc/shadow, password authentication is disabled, and using SSH keys ensures continued access without allowing password changes. Password expiry becomes irrelevant. Option A: passwd -e is not standard; setting password to expire and allowing user to change it violates the requirement. Option B: usermod -r removes user from system, inappropriate. Option D: locking password with passwd -l prevents any password auth, but then the application must use a different method like sudo, which may be complex; option C is simpler.
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.
- ✗
Run 'chage -M 60 appuser' and then 'passwd -e appuser' to expire the password immediately.
Why it's wrong here
Does not prevent the user from changing the password.
- ✗
Run 'chage -M 60 -d 0 appuser' and then 'usermod -r appuser' to make it a system account.
Why it's wrong here
usermod -r removes the user from groups and may break application.
- ✗
Run 'chage -M 60 -d 0 appuser' and then 'passwd -l appuser' to lock the password, ensuring that the application uses sudo to run commands as appuser.
Why it's wrong here
Locking password prevents any password authentication; requiring sudo may be more disruptive than using SSH keys.
- ✓
Run 'chage -M 60 -W 7 appuser' and then modify /etc/shadow to set the password field to '!', and configure the application to use SSH keys for authentication.
Why this is correct
Disables password authentication and prevents password changes; SSH keys allow access; password expiry becomes moot.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "never" 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
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 LFCS 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 LFCS exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this LFCS question test?
User and Group Management — This question tests User and Group Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Run 'chage -M 60 -W 7 appuser' and then modify /etc/shadow to set the password field to '!', and configure the application to use SSH keys for authentication. — Option C is the best. By setting the password to '!' in /etc/shadow, password authentication is disabled, and using SSH keys ensures continued access without allowing password changes. Password expiry becomes irrelevant. Option A: passwd -e is not standard; setting password to expire and allowing user to change it violates the requirement. Option B: usermod -r removes user from system, inappropriate. Option D: locking password with passwd -l prevents any password auth, but then the application must use a different method like sudo, which may be complex; option C is simpler.
What should I do if I get this LFCS question wrong?
Identify which LFCS exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best", "never". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This LFCS practice question is part of Courseiva's free Linux Foundation 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 LFCS exam.
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