🚀 Your Cybersecurity Career Starts Here! You're about to begin your personalized cybersecurity skills assessment, here's what you need to know:

👨🏽‍💻 What to Expect:

Will take about 10 minutes to complete
Completely confidential
Immediate feedback upon completion
Personalized certification recommendation

💪🏾 Important Reminders:

Use a stable internet connection
Complete in a quiet, distraction-free environment
Answer honestly to receive most accurate placement

1. Which component is often called the "brain" of the computer, responsible for executing instructions? *

a) RAM (Random Access Memory)

b) CPU (Central Processing Unit)

c) Hard Drive / SSD

d) Power Supply

2. Which of the following is primarily responsible for storing files, applications, and the operating system long-term, even when the computer is turned off? *

a) RAM (Random Access Memory)

b) CPU (Central Processing Unit)

c) Hard Drive or SSD (Solid State Drive)

d) Motherboard

3. Microsoft Word, Google Chrome, and Adobe Photoshop are examples of what type of software? *

a) Operating System Software

b) Utility Software

c) Application Software

d) Firmware

4. What is the main function of a computer's operating system (like Windows, macOS, or Linux)? *

a) To connect to the internet wirelessly

b) To manage hardware, software resources, and provide a user interface

c) To physically clean the computer components

d) To design complex graphics

5. Which of the following is an example of an input device? *

a) Printer

b) Monitor

c) Speakers

d) Keyboard

6. You need to connect your laptop to the internet wirelessly at home. What piece of hardware is primarily responsible for broadcasting the Wi-Fi signal? *

a) Modem

b) Router (or Wireless Router)

c) Ethernet Cable

d) Monitor

7. Every device connected directly to the internet (or a local network) needs a unique identifier to send and receive data. What is this identifier typically called? *

a) MAC Address

b) IP Address

c) Hostname

d) Serial Number

8. You type a website address (like www.hackingtheworkforce.org) into your browser. What system translates this human-readable address into a numerical IP address that computers use? *

a) DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)

b) DNS (Domain Name System)

c) Firewall

d) ISP (Internet Service Provider)

9. What term describes a network typically confined to a single building or small geographic area, like your home or office? *

a) WAN (Wide Area Network)

b) LAN (Local Area Network)

c) VPN (Virtual Private Network)

d) PAN (Personal Area Network)

10. What is the primary security function of a network firewall? *

a) To speed up internet connections

b) To automatically update software

c) To filter incoming and outgoing network traffic based on rules, blocking unauthorized access

d) To store copies of website data

11. Your computer is running extremely slowly. Which of the following actions is a common first step to try and resolve the issue? *

a) Reinstalling the operating system

b) Checking which applications are using the most resources (e.g., via Task Manager/Activity Monitor) and closing unnecessary ones

c) Buying a new computer immediately

d) Disconnecting the monitor

12. You install a new piece of software, and shortly after, your computer starts crashing or behaving unexpectedly. What is a logical first troubleshooting step related to this change? *

a) Assume it's a virus and run a scan immediately.

b) Try uninstalling the newly installed software to see if the problem stops.

c) Increase the amount of RAM in your computer.

d) Ignore the problem, hoping it resolves itself.

13. You click a link in an email, and your web browser shows a warning message about the site being potentially unsafe or deceptive. What is the wisest course of action? *

a) Click "Proceed anyway" because warning messages are often overly cautious.

b) Close the browser tab or navigate away from the site immediately without entering any information.

c) Enter your login details quickly before the site gets blocked.

d) Reload the page several times to see if the warning disappears.

14. Which of the following represents the strongest type of password? *

a) password123

b) FluffyTheCat

c) Summer2025!

d) aV7#kZ$pLq*rW8!n

15. What is "phishing"? *

a) A type of hardware that improves network speed.

b) An attempt to trick someone into revealing sensitive information (like passwords or financial details) often via deceptive emails, messages, or websites.

c) A method for physically cleaning computer components.

d) A secure protocol for transferring files online.

16. Why is it critically important to keep your operating system and applications updated? *

a) Updates primarily change the look and feel of the software.

b) Updates are only needed if you notice a specific problem.

c) Updates often include patches for security vulnerabilities that attackers could otherwise exploit to gain access or install malware.

d) Updates mainly free up storage space on your device.

17. Which type of malicious software is specifically designed to encrypt a user's files and then demand payment for the decryption key? *

a) Virus

b) Worm

c) Spyware

d) Ransomware

18. Which aspect of technology interests you the most right now? (Choose one) *

a) Understanding how computer hardware and software works.

b) Setting up and managing computer networks.

c) Figuring out how to protect data and systems from threats.

d) Learning how to build websites or applications.

e) I'm still exploring and not sure yet.