CREST Practitioner Security Analyst (CPSA) Practice

fgdump is primarily used for what function?

1. Dumping passwords on Windows systems

2. Backing up system configurations

3. Monitoring network traffic

4. Testing network speed

The correct answer is: Dumping passwords on Windows systems

fgdump is a tool that is primarily utilized for dumping passwords on Windows systems. It operates by accessing the security accounts manager (SAM) and obtaining information regarding user accounts and their associated passwords. This is particularly important in the context of security analysis and penetration testing, where understanding password security can help identify vulnerabilities in a system. The ability of fgdump to extract password hashes from a Windows system enhances its utility for security professionals who need to assess the strength of password policies and the overall security posture of an organization's user accounts. By obtaining and analyzing these password hashes, security analysts can assess potential risks related to weak passwords or outdated practices that could be compromised. The other options represent functions not associated with fgdump. Backing up system configurations typically involves other tools focused on system administration rather than password retrieval. Monitoring network traffic generally requires a different set of tools specifically designed for traffic analysis and intrusion detection. Testing network speed is also unrelated to fgdump's functionality, as speed tests evaluate network performance rather than system security.