LPIC-1 Administrative Tasks Practice Question
An administrator wants to prevent a specific user, 'john', from being able to schedule cron jobs. Which file should the administrator modify?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse /etc/cron.allow with /etc/cron.deny, thinking that modifying the allow file is the only way to control access, but the question specifically asks for a file to prevent a user, which is the deny file.
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
✓
/etc/cron.deny
The /etc/cron.deny file lists users who are explicitly denied access to schedule cron jobs. If this file exists and the user 'john' is listed in it, he will be prevented from using crontab. This is the standard mechanism for restricting cron access when /etc/cron.allow does not exist.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
/var/spool/cron/crontabs
Why it's wrong here
Directory containing user crontab files; removing john's file would not prevent re-creation.
- ✗
/etc/cron.allow
Why it's wrong here
If this file exists, only listed users can use cron; adding john would allow him.
- ✗
/etc/crontab
Why it's wrong here
System-wide crontab, not for user restrictions.
- ✓
/etc/cron.deny
Why this is correct
Add 'john' to this file to prevent him from using cron.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This LPIC-1 practice question is part of Courseiva's free LPI 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 LPIC-1 exam.