Lesson 7 - Chapter 4: Scripting Basics

Question 1

What is a script?

Answer 1

a script is a small program used to automate computing actions

Question 2

Where are scripts written in and executed from? (2)

Answer 2

1. Scripts are written in a plain text-based editor like Notepad
2. Executed from a command prompt

Question 3

What is scripting?

Answer 3

powerful kind of programming that makes repetitive data manipulation and machine configuration easier

Question 4

Scripts are stored as ___ files

Answer 4

text files

Question 5

What are the 6 scripting languages?

Answer 5

1) .bat
2) .ps1
3) .vbs
4) .sh
5) .js
6) .py

Question 6

What are 3 characteristics of a .bat file extension (scripting language)?

also known as a batch file

Answer 6

1. Runs commands in sequence
2. Displays each command as it runs using echo
3. Includes remarks that explain the purpose of the file using REM

Question 7

What is the .bat file extension used by?

Answer 7

Command Prompt (originally developed for MS-DOS)

Question 8

The .ps1 file extension is used by what?

Answer 8

PowerShell scripts

Question 9

What is PowerShell?

Answer 9

PowerShell is an object-oriented scripting language built into Win10/11

Question 10

PowerShell includes support for what 4 things?

v, l, c, c

Answer 10

1. variables
2. looping
3. cmdlets
4. consistent syntax using a verb-noun command structure (Get-Help)

Question 11

What are cmdlets?

Answer 11

small .NET-based apps

Question 12

The .vbs file extension is used for? (2 names it’s known as)

Answer 12

1. Visual Basic Script
2. VBScript

Question 13

What’s a warning about .bat files?

Answer 13

There are no restrictions on .bat files so a harmful .bat file can be run without being blocked by Windows (view the contents of the file before running it)

[.bat files can be edited using Notepad or a word processing program because they’re plain-text files]

Question 14

What is VBScript? Derived from what? What editor does it use? (2)

Answer 14

1. a Microsoft scripting language derived from Visual Basic
2. uses any plain-text editor to create/edit VBScript files

Question 15

The macro functions of Excel and other Office apps with macro support use what file extension instead of .vbs?

Answer 15

.vba (Visual Basic for Applications)

Question 16

What 2 ways can you execute a VBScript file?

Answer 16

1. wscript.exe interpreter (by default, displays output of script in a window or box)
2. Windows Script Host

Question 17

What file extension is used for Bash shell files?

Answer 17

.sh

Question 18

What are Bash shell files?

Answer 18

a type of executable file used originally on UNIX systems, now used on Linux/macOS in Terminal mode

Question 19

The .js extension is used for what?

Answer 19

JavaScript scripts

Question 20

What is JavaScript widely used in? (6)

Answer 20

1. Web development
2. Web applications
3. Web servers
4. Server apps
5. Smartwatch apps
6. Mobile apps

Question 21

What type of language is JavaScript?

Answer 21

It’s an object-based, interpreted language (with no connection to Java programming language)

Question 22

What is the .py extension used for?

Answer 22

Python scripts

Question 23

What is Python? What OS is it included on? (2)

Answer 23

1. a versatile scripting and programming language
2. included in macOS and most Linux distros (but available for Windows)

Question 24

The Python IDLE combines what?

Answer 24

a text editor with a Python interpreter (but can also be executed in a browser at websites like CodeAcademy)

Question 25

Some scripting languages include..... (3)... that can be used to edit and run scripts I, I, I

Answer 25

1. IDE - Integrated Development Environment 2. IDLE - Integrated Development and Learning Environment 3. ISE - Integrated scripting environment

Question 26

Scripts allow a series of built-in commands to be used as an algorithm to....? (3)

Answer 26

1. perform a task 2. calculate a result 3. measure and report system conditions (among many others)

Question 27

What does API stand for?

Answer 27

Application Programming Interfaces

Question 28

JavaScript and Python use the API (application programming interfaces) of....

Answer 28

the host OS (which already perform all or some of a function)

Question 29

What makes a script usually easier and more efficient than writing a compile program?

Answer 29

a script is interpreted

Question 30

What PowerShell cmdlet restarts the OS on local and remote computers?

Answer 30

Restart-Computer (with parameters)

Question 31

What Linux command will restart the system?

Answer 31

shutdown -r (though Linux systems require far fewer restarts than Windows)

Question 32

On Windows OS, what are drive mappings?

Answer 32

Assigning a drive an alphabetic identifier (like F: or C:)

Question 33

What is another term for mounted?

Answer 33

mapped

Question 34

Why would drives need to be remapped? (2)

Answer 34

1. a drive is removed from the system (unmapped) and messes up the sequence 2. a software app requires a particular drive alphabet ID (common on larger networks)

Question 35

A mapped drive provides a connection between... (2)

Answer 35

A mapped drive provides a connection between a local drive and a shared directory/file on a remote device

Question 36

In a Windows script, what 2 commands are used for drive mapping? One is a PS command

Answer 36

1. net use 2. New-PSDrive (PS command)

Question 37

On Linux, drive mapping doesn't exist as file systems are mounted to the ___ ___ ___

Answer 37

root file system (without a specific drive ID)

Question 38

What should you find if you want to create a text-formatted script file to install software silently?

Answer 38

find the silent mode parameter/switch for the setup/installer for each of the applications

Question 39

What are the 2 ways Installers are typically implemented on Windows?

Answer 39

1. .exe files 2. Windows Installer packages (.MSI)

Question 40

What does the syntax look like when you want to execute the setup.exe utility for a new app in silent mode and add an icon for the app on the Desktop? Directory that contains the .exe = NewAppFiles

Answer 40

C:\NewAppFiles\setup.exe /S /desktopicon=yes

Question 41

What does the syntax look like to use the Windows Installer to add an app from a script in silent /qn? Command: ? Directory with installer: NewAppFiles

Answer 41

msiexec C:\NewAppFiles\install.msi /qn

Question 42

What is the cmdlet in PowerShell to run installs?

Answer 42

Start-Process (more installation control, error-handling options)

Question 43

What 2 commands does Linux use with scripts to compile apps from source code?

Answer 43

1. apt 2. yum

Question 44

What can you use to run a simple type of backup?

Answer 44

ordinary file-copy tools (such as Robocopy in Windows)

Question 45

If you want to run a backup with a specific set of directories/files, what would be a better choice?

Answer 45

A script

Question 46

What can be run automatically using the Windows Task Scheduler or Linux cron setting? (for what purpose?)

Answer 46

a script (like any executable) like when doing automated backups

Question 47

What PowerShell cmdlet do you use to capture the log file from a single app or apps in an install script?

Answer 47

Get-AppPackageLog

Question 48

____ has hundreds of ____ that can be used to access and return configuration and status information from Windows subsystems

Answer 48

PowerShell has hundreds of Get- cmdlets that can be used to access and return configuration/status information from Windows

Question 49

What scripting languages, commands or software can you use for: 1. Restarting Machines (2) 2. Remapping Network Drives (2) 3. Installing Applications (4) 4. Automated Backups (2) 5. Information Gathering (1) 6. Initiating Updates (3)

Answer 49

1. Restarting Machines: -PowerShell (Restart-Computer) -Linux (shutdown -r) 2. Remapping Network Drives: -Windows script (net use) -PowerShell (New-PSDrive) 3. Installing Applications: -Windows script (write path to installer and switches) -Windows Installer (msiexec and switch) -PowerShell (Start-Process) -Linux (apt-get/apt or yum) 4. Automated Backups: -Robocopy (simple) -Scripts (Windows Task Scheduler, Linux cron) 5. Information Gathering: -PowerShell (Get- cmdlets) 6. Initiating Updates: -Command Prompt (wusa.exe initiated from script) -PowerShell (Install-Module) -Linux (apt-get/apt or yum)

Question 50

On a Windows 10/11 system command prompt, what installer can be initiated from a script and used to complete routine update tasks?

Answer 50

Windows Update Standalone Installer (wusa.exe)

Question 51

Besides wusa.exe (Windows Update Standalone Installer), what else can you use to manage the update process?

Answer 51

PowerShell cmdlet Install-Module

Question 52

On Linux systems, what 3 commands can be executed within a Bash script to install an app and as well as update it?

Answer 52

1. apt-get 2. apt 3. yum

Question 53

What are 3 general drawbacks to using scripts?

Answer 53

1. scripting languages are open-source 2. require the installation of an interpreter 3. slower than a compiled program (depending on scope of the script)

Question 54

How can an attacker use a script to introduce malware?

Answer 54

A customized script can be accessed and altered and used to install malware or launch a privilege escalation attack

Question 55

Besides rigorous testing, new system scripts should be run with...?

Answer 55

the lowest level of privileges necessary

Question 56

Unintentional malware is primarily poorly written script statements that provide access to.... (2)

Answer 56

system information or user accounts

Question 57

How can non-malicious scripts affect a system negatively? (3) may, open, disable

Answer 57

1. may shut down a software firewall 2. open port settings 3. disable anti-malware software

Question 58

A poorly constructed script can cause errors by possibly mishandling....?

Answer 58

the system's resources (can cause conditions that conflict with the normal actions of the CPU or OS from cmdlets that target a system resource)

Question 59

What is an "elevated command prompt"?

Answer 59

One with admin privileges

Question 60

Each command has its own syntax; what do you use on Windows and Linux to get instructions for a command? (2)

Answer 60

1. Windows = help 2. Linux = man