Module 1: Introduction to Python

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1 INTRODUCTION – Introduction to Python
2 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: INTRODUCTION TO PYTHON PROGRAMMING IN CYBERSECURITY
3 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: CORE PYTHON COMPONENTS
4 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: CONDITIONAL AND ITERATIVE STATEMENTS
5 MODULE 1 CHALLENGE
6 CONCLUSION – Introduction to Python
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INTRODUCTION – Introduction to Python

In this thorough overview, apprentices will enter an enlightening dive into the world of programming using Python and its indispensable application in cybersecurity. The course sets the fundamental ground for Python and extends its different applications within the complicated sphere of cybersecurity. Participants will learn the pivotal aspects that Python encompasses, such as those incorporating data types, variables, conditional statements, and iterative statements as the basic foundations for tackling security issues.

By learning about the affinity between Python and cyber security, students will realize how this adaptable programming language becomes an essential supporter in stopping and combating cyber threats. Basic ideas in Python, therefore, form foundations on which they build their profile. This module prepares students to use Python in different contexts of cybersecurity. With a sound analysis, it promises not to leave participants in the understanding of theoretical aspects in Python alone but indeed to train as skilled practitioners in the ever-changing world of cybersecurity.

Learning Objectives

  • Explain how the Python programming language is applied in security.
  • Describe the handling of various data types in Python.
  • Incorporate variables into Python code.
  • Write conditional statements in Python.
  • Write iterative statements in Python.

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: INTRODUCTION TO PYTHON PROGRAMMING IN CYBERSECURITY

1. What tasks would a security analyst most likely automate with Python? Select three answers.

  • Managing an access control list (CORRECT)
  • Analyzing network traffic (CORRECT)
  • Sorting through a log file (CORRECT)
  • Addressing an unusual cybersecurity concern

Most of the following activities will be automated by a security analyst with the help of Python: sorting through logs, performing Access control Lists (ACLs) management, and analyzing network traffic. Python is a language that is widely adopted in cybersecurity today for automating the mundane or repetitive work done by security professionals because it helps them save time and work better. Using Python, analysts have the facility to process large amounts of data, analyze them in complex ways, and detect potential threats efficiently, saving time and improving quality in a number of security processes.

2. What are some benefits of using Python in security? Select all that apply.\

  • Python reduces manual effort. (CORRECT)
  • Python can combine separate tasks into one workstream. (CORRECT)
  • Python is the only language that creates a specific set of instructions to execute tasks.
  • Python helps automate short, simple tasks. (CORRECT)

Minimizing manual input have been associated with most common and tedious repetitive tasks within Python. It is a bridge between some simple tasks and makes those possible to be streamlined all-the-more by integrating them into one workflow.

3. Which of the following code blocks contains a valid Python comment?

This prints a “Try again” message

  • print(“Try again”)
  • : This prints a “Try again” message
  • print(“Try again”)
  • comment: This prints a “Try again” message
  • print(“Try again”)
  •  # This prints a “Try again” message
  • print(“Try again”) (CORRECT)

The following code block contains a valid Python comment:

  • # This prints a “Try again” message
  • print(“Try again”)

Comments are those lines where programmers have written some notes about the purpose of code, or its intent. Comments begin with the hash symbol (#).

4. Which line of code outputs the string “invalid username” to the screen?

  • print(invalid username)
  • # print(“invalid username”)
  • print(“invalid username”) (CORRECT)
  • print(#invalid username#)

print(“invalid username”)-the above code displays the message invalid username on the screen. The print() function will output whatever object is inside the parentheses to the screen. In order to be displayed as a string, it has to be given in quotation marks.

5. Why might a security analyst choose Python to automate tasks? Select three answers.

  • Python programmers can follow standard guidelines. (CORRECT)
  • Python runs faster than other programming languages.
  • Python programmers can find a lot of support online. (CORRECT)
  • Python resembles human language and is easy to read. (CORRECT)

Robust online resource accessibility plus adherence to enduring guideline is an extra reasons why a security analyst might choose Python for task automation. Python also is progressively loved for its readability, the logical syntax being very close to human language hence easy to read.

6. Which of the following options is a Python comment?

  • % Display authorized users
  • print(“username”)
  • # Print authorized usernames (CORRECT)
  • “username authorized”

Printing the usernames authorized-iis a Python comment. In programming terminology, comments are the notes added by the programmer desiring to describe the purpose or intention behind the code that starts with a symbol #.

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: CORE PYTHON COMPONENTS

1. Which of the following data items are float data? Select all that apply.

  • “5.2”
  • 8
  • 15.0 (CORRECT)
  • -2.11 (CORRECT)

Examples of floating point numbers would be 15.0 and -2.11, while floating point numbers are numbers that have a decimal associated with them.

2. What code displays the data type of the variable username?

 
username = ["elarson", "bmoreno", "tshah"]
type(username) = data_type
print(data_type)

username = ["elarson", "bmoreno", "tshah"]
data_type = type()
print(data_type)

username = ["elarson", "bmoreno", "tshah"]
data_type = username
print(data_type)

username = ["elarson", "bmoreno", "tshah"]
data_type = type(username)
print(data_type) (CORRECT)

The data type of the variable username is displayed by the following code:

username = ["elarson", "bmoreno", "tshah"]
data_type = type(username) (CORRECT)
print(data_type)

Input type and returns the data type of it. Here, username is a variable whose value is a list. The corresponding data type is assigned to the datatypes variable, which is, in turn, displayed by using print().

3. In the following code, what is the data type of login_success?

login_success = ["success", "success", "fail", "success"]
  • String
  • Integer
  • List (CORRECT)
  • Boolean

Login_success is the data type list. A list data structure holds a collection of items in a sequential order and a list is enclosed within square brackets.

4. What is the output of the following code?

failed_attempts = 3
failed_attempts = 4
print(failed_attempts)
  • 4 (CORRECT)
  • 7
  • 3, 4
  • 3

The code execution delivers a total of four outcomes. At first, the code assigns the value of the failed_attempt variable to three, but later reassigns its value to four before displaying it. The print function, placed afterward, outputs the new value, which is four.

5. Which data type can only have a value of True or False?

  • Boolean (CORRECT)
  • Float
  • String
  • Integer

The only valid values possible with a character of Boolean data type are True and False. Boolean data is a word referring to a value between two options: it may be True or False.

6. Which of the following lines of code assigns the variable username a value of “jrafael”?

  • “jrafael” = username
  • print(“jrafael”, username)
  • print(username, “jrafael”)
  • username = “jrafael” (CORRECT)

This line of code username = “jrafael” assigns the value jrafael to the variable username. The syntax for variable assignment consists of the variable name, followed by an equals sign (=), followed by the value to be assigned to the variable.

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: CONDITIONAL AND ITERATIVE STATEMENTS

1. What will the following code display?

ip_address = "192.168.183.51"
if ip_address == "192.168.183.51":
    print("You're logged in.")
else:
    print("Login failed, try again.")
  • Both “You’re logged in.” and “Login failed, try again.”
  • “Login failed, try again.”
  • Nothing
  • “You’re logged in.” (CORRECT)

“This will display . If the ip_address variable is equal to ‘192.168.183.51’, the program enters the if statement. This condition evaluates to True, so Python executes the action that appears in the body of the if statement: it will show “You’re logged in.” Else statement runs the action only if the if evaluates to False; hence, it will not print ‘Login failed, try again’.”

2. Which conditional statement prints the message “account locked” when the value of failed_logins is 3 or higher?

if failed_login_count > 3:
    print("account locked")

if failed_login_count != 3:
    print("account locked")

if failed_logins >= 3:
    print("account locked") (CORRECT)

if failed_login_count == 3:
    print("account locked")

The following conditional statement prints the message “account locked” when the value of failed_logins is 3 or higher:

if failed_logins >= 3:
    print("account locked")

If the number of failed logins is greater than or equal to 3, then the concerned condition evaluates to true. The operator greater than or equal to (> =) simply defines that condition- “greater than or equal to”. As soon as this condition becomes true, then the body executes the print statement “account locked.”

3. Which code prints all numbers from 3 to 7?

for i in range(3, 7):
    print(i)

for i in range(3, 8):
    print(i) (CORRECT)

for i in range(8):
    print(i)
for i in range(3, 4, 5, 6, 7):
    print(i)

The following code prints all numbers from 3 to 7:

for i in range(3, 8):
    print(i)

The range() function produces a sequence of numbers ranging from one point to another, in this case, range(3, 8). Beginning at 3 and count along to 7: you include the first number, and the next number is the one that must be excluded.

4. How many times does the following code print the “security alert” message?

count = 0
while count < 10:
    print("security alert")
    count = count + 1
  • 10 (CORRECT)
  • 5
  • 0
  • 9

This statement will be printed ten times using the code. The count variable is set initially to 0, and it will be incremented by 1 for each iteration of the loop. The loop will then continue running until the condition within specifies that it should stop at 10. Thus, security alert will be printed ten times.

5. Which operator can be used in a condition to evaluate whether the value contained in a login_attempts variable matches a value of 5?

  • == (CORRECT)
  • =
  • !=
  • >=

The == operator checks whether two objects belong to the same value, and this can also serve as a condition to check whether the value of the variable login_attempts equals 5. Thus, the condition can be written as if login_attempts == 5 in an if statement.

MODULE 1 CHALLENGE

1. Fill in the blank: Automation is _____.

  • the use of technology to reduce human and manual effort to perform common and repetitive tasks
  • the replacement of existing technology (CORRECT)
  • the use of human and manual effort to reduce technological power consumption
  • the combination of technology and manual effort to complete a task

2. What is wrong with the following code?

for username in failed_login:
print(username)
  • The line with print(username) is not indented. (CORRECT)
  • The line with for username in failed_login: is not indented.
  • Both lines are not indented.
  • The first line should be split in two, and in failed_login: should be indented on the new line.

3. Fill in the blank: String data _____.

  • must be placed in brackets
  • must include a decimal point
  • must be placed in quotation marks (CORRECT)
  • must be placed in parentheses

4. Which data type always has a value of either True or False?

  • Boolean (CORRECT)
  • Float
  • List
  • String

5. Which line of code assigns the string “dtanaka” to a variable called username?

  • “dtanaka” = username
  • username(“dtanaka”)
  • username = dtanaka
  • username = “dtanaka” (CORRECT)

6. What will this code do when you run it?

var2 = ["a","b","c"]
var2_type = type(var2)
print(var2_type)
  • Change the data type of var2
  • Output the characters “a”, “b”, and “c” to the screen
  • Indicate that var2 contains list data (CORRECT)
  • Print the string “var2_type” to the screen

7. You are checking whether the string stored in a device_id variable matches to the correct device ID, the string “15hgu3769”. When it matches, you want to print, “Login successful!”. Which conditional statement has the correct syntax needed to do this?

if device_id == "15hgu3769":
    print("Login successful!") (CORRECT)

if "device_id" = "15hgu3769"
    print("Login successful!")

if device_id != "15hgu3769"
    print("Login successful!")

if "device_id == 15hgu3769"
    print("Login successful!")

8. Fill in the blank: An else statement _____.

  • contains its own unique condition
  • executes when the condition in the if statement preceding it evaluates to False (CORRECT)
  • executes when the condition in the if statement preceding it evaluates to True
  • is required after every if statement

9. What iterative statement should you use if you want to print the numbers 1, 2, and 3?

for i in [1,3]:
    print(i)

for i in range(0,3):
    print(i)

for i in [1, 2, 3]:
    print(i) (CORRECT)

for i in range(1,3):
    print(i)

10. You want to print all even numbers between 0 and 10 (in other words, 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10). What should your next line of code be?

count = 0
while count <= 10:
    print(count)
  • count = count + 1
  • if count < 10:
  • count = count + 2 (CORRECT)
  • count = 1

11. Which of these are string data? Select all that apply.

  •  [100, 200, 300]
  • “100” (CORRECT)
  • 100
  • “user1” (CORRECT)

12. What are possible values for the Boolean data type? Select all that apply.

  • True (CORRECT)
  • !=
  • False (CORRECT)
  • > 

13. You are implementing security measures on a server. If a user has more than 3 failed login attempts, the program should print “locked out”. The number of failed login attempts is stored in a variable called failed_attempts. Which conditional statement has the correct syntax needed to do this?

  • if failed_attempts >= 3
  •     print(“locked out”)
if failed_attempts >= 3
    print("locked out")

if failed_attempts < 3
    print("locked out")

if failed_attempts > 3:
    print("locked out") (CORRECT)

if failed_attempts <= 3:
    print("locked out")

14. In a cybersecurity setting, which of these tasks would it be common to apply Python to? Select all that apply.

  • Reducing the effort needed to manage an access control list (CORRECT)
  • Automating several tasks from a playbook into one workstream (CORRECT)
  • Automating how a log is read when responding to an incident (CORRECT)
  • Manually checking individual timestamps in a log

15. What data type requires quotation marks (” “)?

  • String (CORRECT)
  • Boolean
  • Integer
  • Float

16. Which line of Python code would create a Boolean value of True?

  • print(25<24)
  • print(“True”)
  • print(10<100) (CORRECT)
  • print([“Boolean”])

17. What are the variables in the following code? Select all that apply.

username = "kcarter"
attempts = 5
print(username)
print(attempts)
print("locked")
  • attempts (CORRECT)
  • username (CORRECT)
  • “kcarter”
  • “locked”

18. Fill in the blank: If you ran the following code, the output would _____.

var1 = 9.5
var1_type = type(var1)
print(var1_type)
  • reassign var1 as float data
  • indicate that var1 contains float data (CORRECT)
  • output 9.5 to the screen
  • reassign var1 as string data

19. You wrote the following code:

if attempts >= 5:
    print("locked")
else:
    print("try again")

If the value in the attempts variable is 3, what will Python do?

  • First output the message “try again” and then output the message “locked”
  • Output the message “try again” (CORRECT)
  • First output the message “locked” and then output the message “try again”
  • Output the message “locked”

20. What will this iterative statement do?

for i in [0, 5]:
    print(i)
  • Output the integers 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4
  • Output the integer 0
  • Output the integers 0 and 5 (CORRECT)
  • Output the integers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5

21. If you want to run a loop that repeats if a count variable is less than 50, what code should your loop header contain?

  • while count < 50: (CORRECT)
  • while count == 50:
  • print(50)
  • count = count + 50

22. Fill in the blank: If you use Python code to reduce the manual effort needed to manage an access control list, this is an example of _____.

  • data analysis
  • debugging
  • reassignment
  • automation (CORRECT)

23. What is the syntax problem in the following code?

if username == "aestrada":
print("username found")
  • The first line should be indented one space, and the second line should be indented two spaces.
  • The line with if username == “aestrada”: is not indented.
  • The line with print(“username found”) is not indented. (CORRECT)
  • Both lines are not indented.

24. How do you assign the string value “rtp3426” to a variable called device_id?

  • device_id = “rtp3426” (CORRECT)
  • device_id(rtp3426)
  • device_id = rtp3426
  • device_id(“rtp3426”)

25. What code can you use to return the data type of the value stored in the input variable?

  • print(“type”)
  • print(input)
  • type(“string”)
  • type(input) (CORRECT)

26. How many times will the following code print the “warning” message?

count = 1
while count < 5:
    print("warning")
    count = count + 1
  • 1
  • 0
  • 4 (CORRECT)
  • 5

27. The purpose of the following code is to print an “Attempting connection” message while the value of the count variable is less than 10. The value of count should increase by 1 with each iteration of the loop. What is wrong with the code? Select all that apply.

count = 1
while count < 10:
print("Attempting connection")
count = count + 1
  • The line with while count < 10: is not indented.
  • The line with count = 1 is not indented
  • The line with count = count + 1 is not indented. (CORRECT)
  • The line with print(“Attempting connection”) is not indented. (CORRECT)

28. You want to check the string stored in an update_status variable. When it contains a value of “incomplete”, you want to print a “schedule update” message. Right now, this conditional statement is not correct. What are the problems with this conditional statement? Select all that apply.

if update_status != "incomplete"
    print("schedule update")
  • The operator should not be !=. It should be ==.  (CORRECT)
  • A colon (:) is missing at the end of the conditional header. (CORRECT)
  • The line with print(“schedule update”) should not be indented.
  • There should be quotation marks around the variable update_status.

29. You have written the following code:

if operating_system == "OS 3":
    print("Updates needed")

You want to add to it so that it will print a “No updates needed” message whenever the value of operating_system is not “OS 3”. Which lines of code have the correct syntax to do this?

else
    print("No updates needed")

elif operating_system == "OS 3":
    print("No updates needed")

else:
    print("No updates needed") (CORRECT)

else operating_system != "OS 3":
    print("No updates needed")

CONCLUSION – Introduction to Python

Conclusively, this first course on Python programming in the field of cybersecurity will instill learners in-depth knowledge of core concepts with a solid understanding of their actual usage. Data types, variables, and programming structures should be explored as students establish their foundation to galvanize their future usage of Python in fighting computer cybercrime.

This complete overview is of course theoretical but also gives sound practice in using Python in real life for cybersecurity purposes. Such learned persons will thus become much more capable of making worthwhile contributions to the flourishing world of cybersecurity, armed with such high-level programming skills in Python.

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