COHESITY DATA PROTECTION ASSOCIATE
EXAM PAPER 2026 COMPREHENSIVE STUDY
GUIDE WITH SOLVED Q&A
◉ What is data security? Answer: - Data security is about keeping
data safe from being stolen, misused or deliberately or accidently
destroyed
◉ What is an example of accidental damage to a computer? Answer:
- Computers can be destroyed in a fire or flood
◉ What is a computer virus and what are they used for? Answer: - A
computer virus is a small software program that attaches to another
program or file:
- It runs when the program is run or file is loaded, and has the ability
to reproduce itself
- It may be attached to an email, and may be replicated by email
itself to people in a victims address book
- Viruses can be used to steal information, harm host computers and
networks, create botnets, steal money and more
◉ What is malware? Answer: - Malware is short for malicious
software, which is intentionally designed to compromise computer
functions, cause damage to a computer or steal data
,◉ What are examples of malware? Answer: - Virus
- Worm
- Ransomware
◉ What is a bonnet? Answer: - A botnet is a collection of internet-
connected devices, known as zombies, which have been infected and
controlled by the owner of the botnet
◉ What are bonnets used for? Answer: - Users are often unaware of
a botnet infecting their system
- Botnets are used to launch attacks on other sites, send spam or
launch phishing attacks
- PCs, servers, mobile devices and internet of things devices can all
be used in a botnet
◉ What are the effects of viruses? Answer: - Slow computer or web
browser
- Strange computer behavior
- Freezing or crashing
◉ What are worms? Answer: - A worm is a type of malware that uses
computer networks and security holes to replicate itself, without
having to attach to another program
, ◉ How do worms work? Answer: - It may scan the internet looking
for vulnerable computers that have a specific security hole
- It then copies itself to the new machine and starts replicating from
there as well
- Worms are commonly designed to steal data, delete files, or create
botnets
◉ What are trojan horses? Answer: - Trojan horses tricks people by
sending fake attractive advertisement or fake emails which directs
them to a malicious site
- The user downloads and runs the software containing the trojan
◉ What is ransomware? Answer: - Ransomware is malicious
software that holds a user's data ransom:
- Once installed on a computer it will encrypt the files on the disk
- A payment needs to be made to decrypt the files
◉ What is a denial of service (DOS) attack? Answer: - A denial of
service (DOS) attack causes a huge increase of traffic to a particular
site making it drastically slow down, or even shut down completely
EXAM PAPER 2026 COMPREHENSIVE STUDY
GUIDE WITH SOLVED Q&A
◉ What is data security? Answer: - Data security is about keeping
data safe from being stolen, misused or deliberately or accidently
destroyed
◉ What is an example of accidental damage to a computer? Answer:
- Computers can be destroyed in a fire or flood
◉ What is a computer virus and what are they used for? Answer: - A
computer virus is a small software program that attaches to another
program or file:
- It runs when the program is run or file is loaded, and has the ability
to reproduce itself
- It may be attached to an email, and may be replicated by email
itself to people in a victims address book
- Viruses can be used to steal information, harm host computers and
networks, create botnets, steal money and more
◉ What is malware? Answer: - Malware is short for malicious
software, which is intentionally designed to compromise computer
functions, cause damage to a computer or steal data
,◉ What are examples of malware? Answer: - Virus
- Worm
- Ransomware
◉ What is a bonnet? Answer: - A botnet is a collection of internet-
connected devices, known as zombies, which have been infected and
controlled by the owner of the botnet
◉ What are bonnets used for? Answer: - Users are often unaware of
a botnet infecting their system
- Botnets are used to launch attacks on other sites, send spam or
launch phishing attacks
- PCs, servers, mobile devices and internet of things devices can all
be used in a botnet
◉ What are the effects of viruses? Answer: - Slow computer or web
browser
- Strange computer behavior
- Freezing or crashing
◉ What are worms? Answer: - A worm is a type of malware that uses
computer networks and security holes to replicate itself, without
having to attach to another program
, ◉ How do worms work? Answer: - It may scan the internet looking
for vulnerable computers that have a specific security hole
- It then copies itself to the new machine and starts replicating from
there as well
- Worms are commonly designed to steal data, delete files, or create
botnets
◉ What are trojan horses? Answer: - Trojan horses tricks people by
sending fake attractive advertisement or fake emails which directs
them to a malicious site
- The user downloads and runs the software containing the trojan
◉ What is ransomware? Answer: - Ransomware is malicious
software that holds a user's data ransom:
- Once installed on a computer it will encrypt the files on the disk
- A payment needs to be made to decrypt the files
◉ What is a denial of service (DOS) attack? Answer: - A denial of
service (DOS) attack causes a huge increase of traffic to a particular
site making it drastically slow down, or even shut down completely
