CompTIA 220-1202 CompTIA A+ Core 2 2025 Exam Exam Practice Test

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Group Policyis the standard administrative tool for setting user permissions across domain-joined systems.

FromQUENTIN DOCTER – COMPLETE Study Guide:

“Use Group Policy to enforce user rights, including disabling guest account access on domain computers.”

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Operating systems periodically reach a status known as "end of life" (EOL), at which point the developer (e.g., Microsoft, Apple) ceases to provide security updates, patches, or technical support. When this happens, the OS becomes vulnerable and non-compliant with security best practices, which is why organizations typically receive advance notifications from vendors or support teams.

A. Manufacturer support expiration only applies to hardware, not OS patching.

C. Security software may be upgraded or removed, but that does not affect patching the OS itself.

D. The release of a new version doesn’t automatically stop updates for the current version.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Whalingis a form of phishing that targets high-profile individuals or involves pretending to be them (e.g., CEOs) to trick lower-level employees into transferring funds or sensitive data.

FromQuentin Docter – CompTIA A+ Study Guide:

“Whaling is a phishing tactic targeting executives or masquerading as one. The attacker crafts emails that exploit authority and urgency to manipulate recipients.”

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

When an OS reaches its end of life (EOL), it no longer receives updates or support, including critical security patches.

From the Quentin Docter Study Guide:

“End-of-life means the manufacturer no longer supports the OS with updates or security patches, which exposes systems to vulnerabilities unless upgraded”.

All-in-One Exam Guide adds:

“End-of-life notifications serve as a final warning that continued use of the OS will be insecure and unsupported. It’s crucial for administrators to plan migration”.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Anincident reportsummarizes what happened during an outage, the timeline, the actions taken, and the resolution, which is exactly what management typically requests post-incident.

FromQuentin Docter – CompTIA A+ Complete Study Guide:

“Incident reports document the events of an IT issue or outage, including detection, response, and resolution. They are crucial for post-incident review and management accountability.”

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

3G networks generally do not provide the bandwidth required for seamless HD video streaming. With only two signal bars and a 3G connection, the mobile device likely cannot maintain the necessary data throughput, resulting in timeouts or buffering failures. This is a classic symptom of insufficient network speed or signal strength.

A. Lack of Wi-Fi may contribute, but the root cause is the low mobile bandwidth, not the Wi-Fi state.

B. A website subscription lapse would return an account error, not a timeout.

D. Full device storage can affect downloads but not streaming from the internet.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

PXE (Preboot Execution Environment) allows workstations to boot over the network and download an OS image from a server. It is ideal for automating mass deployments using baseline images across many machines without the need for physical media.

A. An ISO is a disk image file but requires mounting or physical media.

B. Secure Boot is a security feature, not a method of deploying OS images.

C. USB requires manual installation and is not suitable for automated deployment at scale.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

These symptoms strongly indicatemalware infectionor a malicious app running in the background. The first action should be torun a malware scanto identify and remove malicious components.

FromQuentin Docter – CompTIA A+ Complete Study Guide:

“If a mobile device is overheating and the battery drains rapidly after installing an app, this could point to malware. Begin by scanning the device with a mobile anti-malware application.”

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Before any change is implemented, it must bedocumentedas part of change management procedures. This ensures transparency, review, and tracking.

FromQuentin Docter – CompTIA A+ Complete Study Guide:

“Documenting a change is the first step in change management. This includes defining the scope, purpose, impact, and implementation plan before approval or scheduling.”

TheLocal Users and Groups Manager (lusrmgr.msc)is the utility for managing user accounts, including renaming the default Administrator.

FromQuentin Docter – Complete Study Guide:

“The lusrmgr.msc snap-in allows renaming and managing local user accounts, including the default administrator.” .

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

A bollard is a sturdy physical barrier—often a steel or concrete post—designed to prevent vehicles or unauthorized individuals from ramming into or entering secure areas of a building. It provides physical security and is commonly used outside entrances to prevent forced entry.

A. PIV (Personal Identity Verification) cards are used for identity access control, not physical blocking.

B. Motion lighting may deter activity but doesn’t physically prevent entry.

C. Surveillance records activity but cannot stop a forced entry.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Windows doesn't natively support many Linux file systems (like ext4).Reformatting to exFATmakes the drive readable/writable on both Linux and Windows.

FromAll-in-One Exam Guide:

“For cross-platform compatibility, exFAT is recommended as it supports large files and is recognized by Windows, macOS, and Linux (with exFAT drivers).”

Screensaver lockshelp protect unattended workstations.

BIOS passwordsprevent unauthorized changes at startup or during boot.

FromQUENTIN DOCTER - COMPTIA A+ COMPLETE study GUIDE:

“Applying a BIOS password adds a pre-boot security layer. Screensaver locks help protect logged-in sessions during idle times.”

In AI terminology,hallucinationrefers to generated output that appears plausible but is factually incorrect.

FromQuentin Docter – CompTIA A+ Complete Study Guide:

“AI hallucination describes output that is fluent and coherent but includes information that is entirely fabricated or inaccurate.”

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

These symptoms strongly suggest malware activity—likely from the newly installed app. The first action should be torun a malware scanto detect and isolate malicious software.

FromQuentin Docter – CompTIA A+ Study Guide:

“Signs of malware infection include rapid battery drain and overheating. The first step should be a malware scan using trusted mobile antivirus apps.”

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

TheServicestool in Windows allows a technician to view service dependencies and status. If the print spooler can't start due to a dependency, Services is the correct tool to inspect and manage them.

FromAll-in-One Exam Guide:

“The Services console allows technicians to view, start, and configure system services, including setting recovery actions and viewing dependencies.”

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Remote wipe is the best option to prevent unauthorized access to data when a mobile device is lost or stolen—especially if the user is unaware of the loss. It allows administrators or mobile device management (MDM) systems to remotely erase all data on the device, rendering it unusable for unauthorized users.

A. Encryption protects the data, but if the device remains powered and logged in, it may still be accessible.

C. Geofencing can restrict features based on location but does not erase data.

D. Facial recognition helps secure access but can be bypassed in some cases or fail in practical situations.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

When an iOS device approaches full storage capacity, performance can be significantly impacted. iOS requires a buffer of free space to perform background processes efficiently.

From theAll-in-One Exam Guide:

“iOS devices need several gigabytes of free space to maintain optimal performance. Near-full storage can cause sluggish operation and failures in updates or background tasks.”

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

To allow Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) access, the firewall must be configured to allow inbound connections on TCP port 3389. If the Windows Firewall blocks RDP, users will not be able to connect remotely even if the feature is enabled in system settings.

B. Computer Management allows configuration of services and local users, but not network access.

C. User Accounts is for account setup and control, but enabling remote access requires firewall configuration.

D. Ease of Access is unrelated to remote connectivity—it’s for accessibility features.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service)provides centralized Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) for users who connect and use a network service.

FromQuentin Docter – CompTIA A+ Complete Study Guide:

“RADIUS is a widely used protocol for implementing AAA in network environments, allowing centralized control over user access and accounting.”

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

In Windows, accessibility tools such as speech recognition are found under the Ease of Access settings. This section includes options for users who require assistive technologies, including screen readers, magnifiers, and voice control interfaces like speech recognition. Setting up speech recognition allows users to control the system and input text using voice commands.

A. Time and Language is for setting regional preferences and language packs.

B. Personalization adjusts themes, backgrounds, and colors.

C. System includes display, storage, notifications, and power settings, but not accessibility tools.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

The correct answer isVNC (Virtual Network Computing). VNC is a graphical desktop-sharing system that uses the Remote Frame Buffer protocol (RFB) to remotely control another computer. It is platform-independent and widely supported on Linux, which makes it ideal for providinginteractive remote support for a Linux-based operating system. It allows the technician not only to view the remote desktop session but also tocontrol it, fulfilling the need to see and interact with the user’s session.

A. VPN(Virtual Private Network) creates a secure tunnel to a network but doesnot provide desktop sharing or session controlby itself.

C. SSH(Secure Shell) provides secure command-line access to Unix/Linux systems but does not offergraphical desktop interaction, which is a requirement in this case.

D. RDP(Remote Desktop Protocol) is primarily a Microsoft protocol, and although it can be made to work on Linux, it isnot natively supported on legacy Linux systems, and thusless suitablethan VNC in this scenario.

CompTIA A+ 220-1102 Core 2 Objective Reference:

Objective 1.8 – Given a scenario, use features and tools of the operating system.

Under this objective, candidates are expected to be familiar with remote access technologies, includingRDP, SSH, and VNC, and understand their appropriate uses and limitations on different platforms such as Windows and Linux.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Since the issue has recurred after a temporary fix, it is likely a deeper or persistent configuration or server issue. Escalating the ticket to the next tier of support (e.g., network or system administrator) ensures further investigation and permanent resolution. Escalation is part of the standard support protocol when issues reoccur despite initial troubleshooting.

A. Rechecking remotely may confirm the issue, but doesn’t resolve it long term.

B. Providing documentation helps the user but doesn’t solve the root cause.

D. Keeping the ticket open is passive and doesn’t address the recurring issue.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

A management profile is used to enforce corporate policies on Apple devices. These profiles are installed via an MDM (Mobile Device Management) solution and control access, restrictions, Wi-Fi settings, app installations, and more. They’re critical for managing devices in a business environment.

A. The App Store allows software downloads but doesn’t control policies.

B. VPN configuration is used for secure remote connections, not enforcement of restrictions.

C. Apple ID is for personal account access to Apple services, not corporate device management.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Apps like GPS or roaming services often drain battery during travel.Checking app utilizationhelps identify battery drain sources.

FromQUENTIN DOCTER - COMPTIA A+ COMPLETE study GUIDE:

“Monitoring app activity can reveal high-power usage apps running in the background, especially when mobile data or GPS is active.”

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

After containment and remediation, one of the final steps in incident response is user education. Since the root cause was a phishing attack, it is essential to educate users about identifying phishing attempts, safe browsing practices, and how to handle suspicious communications. This improves overall security posture and helps prevent future incidents.

A. Installing additional tools may be helpful but is a long-term step.

C. Flashing router firmware is not warranted unless the network hardware is known to be compromised.

D. Suggesting more advanced tools might be excessive given that the EDR successfully contained the incident.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Windows Helloprovides alternative sign-in options including facial recognition, fingerprint scans, and PINs, reducing dependence on passwords.

FromAll-in-One Exam Guide:

“Windows Hello offers a range of biometric and PIN-based login methods designed to simplify access while enhancing security.”

“It can be used in place of a password, ideal for users who frequently forget credentials.”

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

An Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) outlines the rules and guidelines for employees or users regarding the appropriate use of company systems, resources, and internet access. It defines permitted and prohibited activities, helping to mitigate security risks and establish clear behavioral expectations.

B. MNDA (Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement) deals with confidentiality, not usage guidelines.

C. DRM (Digital Rights Management) controls access to copyrighted content.

D. EULA (End User License Agreement) pertains to software licensing, not internal policies.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Image deployment is the fastest and most efficient method for installing operating systems on multiple machines. It involves creating a pre-configured image of an OS and deploying it across systems using tools like Windows Deployment Services (WDS) or third-party imaging solutions. This method saves time and ensures consistency across all devices.

A. Physical media is slow and not scalable.

B. Mountable ISOs are useful but still require manual installation.

C. Manual installation is time-consuming and not suitable for large-scale deployment.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

The recurring print issue suggests theprint spooler service is not set to start automatically, causing it to stop between sessions. Ensuring it is set tostart automaticallyand manuallystarting the servicewill resolve the issue.

FromMark Soper – Mike Meyers' Lab Manual:

“The print spooler is essential for print services. If it isn’t configured to start automatically, users may experience recurring failures.”

“Manually starting the service or setting it to 'Automatic' in the Services panel resolves persistent print availability problems.”

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Just recognizing the device isn’t enough—audio output must be routed to it manuallyby setting it as the default playback device in sound settings.

FromMark Soper – Mike Meyers' Lab Manual:

“If audio is still playing through the internal speaker, verify that the Bluetooth headset is set as the default playback device. This can be configured under Windows Sound Settings.”

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Older tablets may not support newer app versions due toincompatible or unsupported operating systems. App developers often drop support for outdated OS versions.

FromTravis Everett – CompTIA A+ All-in-One Exam Guide:

“When an app won't install on an older device, check the OS version. Most apps require a minimum OS level for compatibility and security.”

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

The user’s issue likely stems from amobile data restriction or cap, especially since uploads work on Wi-Fi but not cellular. Checkingdata usage limitswill help determine if mobile uploads are blocked.

FromAll-in-One Exam Guide:

“When data-intensive functions fail on mobile networks but not on Wi-Fi, it’s often due to data caps or metered connection limits.”

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Linux is an open-source operating system that is freely available and does not require traditional licensing fees. It is highly versatile and scalable, making it suitable for both workstations and servers. Many enterprise environments use Linux to reduce software costs and benefit from robust server features.

B. Windows requires per-device or per-user licensing for both workstation and server editions.

C. macOS is proprietary and limited to Apple hardware with licensing restrictions.

D. Chrome OS is designed for lightweight devices and lacks server functionality.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

When a spreadsheet becomes very large, opening and processing it requires more memory (RAM). If the system doesn't have sufficient memory, it may fail to load the file properly. Upgrading or increasing the available RAM can resolve performance and loading issues with very large files.

A. Restore points roll back system settings, not individual file content.

C. Defragmentation optimizes disk performance but won’t help with memory issues.

D. Network speed has no effect if the file is stored and opened locally.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

MDR (Managed Detection and Response)provides outsourced threat monitoring and response using multiple tools. The use of athird-party providerfor protection and incident handling confirms MDR.

FromQuentin Docter – CompTIA A+ Study Guide:

“MDR provides 24/7 threat detection and response through outsourced experts using advanced tools across client environments.”

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) apps, especially time-based one-time password (TOTP) apps (e.g., Google Authenticator, Authy), rely on accurate time synchronization between the device and the authentication server. If the user recently traveled internationally, the device may have incorrect date/time settings due to time zone changes or failed synchronization, leading to MFA failure.

The most logical and non-intrusive first step is to verify and correct the date and time settings. This aligns with basic troubleshooting principles—start with the simplest and most likely cause before taking more drastic action.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

BitLocker To Go is a Microsoft encryption feature specifically designed for removable drives such as USB flash drives and external hard drives. It allows users to protect the data on these devices by requiring a password to decrypt the contents, thereby preventing unauthorized access in the event the device is lost or stolen.

A is correct because BitLocker To Go is directly tied to password-protecting removable media.

B and C are unrelated to BitLocker To Go; Secure Boot and VPN encryption are entirely different security layers.

D applies to BitLocker (not BitLocker To Go) and full disk encryption on internal drives using TPM.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Memory usage is critically high, suggesting many applications or background processes. Closing unnecessary programs will immediately free up RAM.

FromTravis Everett – All-in-One Exam Guide:

“High memory usage with moderate CPU load usually means too many applications are open. Close unnecessary apps or use Task Manager to end processes.”

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

In emotionally sensitive situations, it is critical that the technicianprojects confidenceand maintains a calm, positive demeanor to reassure the customer.

FromAll-in-One Exam Guide:

“Confidence and empathy are key when working with distressed users. Demonstrating competence can help ease the customer's anxiety.”

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

In a domain environment, printers are typically deployed via a print server. Users can browse available printers on the server and install them directly.

All-in-One Exam Guidementions:

“In a corporate domain, printers are managed via a centralized print server. Users can select the desired printer from the server’s shared list.”

AVPN (Virtual Private Network)creates a secure tunnel between the clerk’s home device and the town server, ensuring private and authenticated access.

FromQuentin Docter – CompTIA A+ Complete Study Guide:

“VPNs are essential for remote access to internal resources, providing secure connections over public networks.”

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

The symptoms suggest abrowser hijacker. Thefirst stepsshould be toremove any malicious extensionsandreset the startup pageto restore normal behavior.

FromAll-in-One Exam Guide:

“Browser hijackers often install as extensions and change homepage settings. Removing these extensions and resetting the startup configuration typically resolves the issue.”

This is part of theuser educationstep after a security incident to prevent future occurrences.

FromQuentin Docter – Complete Study Guide:

“User education and awareness is a crucial part of preventing phishing attacks. After an incident, it is vital to train users on recognizing suspicious messages.” .

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Single sign-on (SSO)allows users to authenticate once and gain access to multiple systems without re-entering credentials, which significantly enhances user convenience while maintaining security.

FromQuentin Docter – CompTIA A+ Complete Study Guide:

“Single sign-on streamlines authentication by allowing users to log in once and access all authorized resources, reducing credential fatigue and improving security.”

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

If internal resources (such as intranet or internal apps) can't be accessed but external sites work, this often points to aDNS issue, where the system isn't resolving internal domain names correctly.

FromAll-in-One Exam Guide:

“When internet access is functional but internal sites fail to load, the issue usually lies with DNS resolution. Internal resources often require internal DNS servers, which may not be configured correctly.”

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

An incident report documents key details such as the cause of the outage, steps taken to resolve it, and measures to prevent recurrence. It is a post-mortem analysis often shared with stakeholders to improve future response.

According to the Quentin Docter – CompTIA A+ Complete Study Guide:

“An incident report provides a summary of an event that disrupted normal operations and includes a timeline of what occurred, how the issue was diagnosed and fixed, and who was involved in the resolution”.

This is reaffirmed in Travis Everett’s All-in-One Guide:

“Documentation after an incident helps technical teams and management review the situation and learn from it. This is formalized in an incident report”.