4.8 - Scripting basics and prohibited-content handling
CompTIA A+ Core 2 objective 4.8 covers basic scripting and professional conduct. If, while repairing a PC, you find files that appear to be illegal content, stop and report it per company policy rather than investigating yourself. Scripting is a legitimate, common part of IT support - automating drive maps, installs and backups, or pushing a startup script to many PCs - but running an unreviewed script downloaded from the internet is risky because it may run malicious or destructive commands. You should also recognise script types by extension; a .sh file is a Linux/Unix shell script. Expect scenario questions that describe finding prohibited content, a scripting use case, or a risky script and ask for the correct professional or safe action.
Find illegal content = stop and report per policy (don't investigate). Scripting good uses = automate drive maps/installs/backups. Unreviewed downloaded script = risky (may run destructive commands). .sh = Linux/Unix shell script.
Practice questions
1. While repairing a PC you find files that appear to be illegal content. What should you do?
- Quietly delete the files
- Stop and report per company policy (correct answer)
- Email the files to yourself
- Ignore them and keep working
Stop work, preserve evidence and the chain of custody, and report through proper channels — don't tamper or share.
2. Which is a real RISK of running an unreviewed script downloaded from the internet?
- It gives the whole PC a faster boot
- It may run malicious or destructive commands (correct answer)
- It noticeably improves the system's graphics
- It adds more usable system memory
Scripts can automate well but also delete data, change configs or run malware — review before running, test in a sandbox.
3. Which is a legitimate, common use case for scripting in IT support?
- Spreading malware across the network
- Automating drive maps, installs, backups (correct answer)
- Deliberately slowing the whole network
- Deleting user files at random
Scripts automate repetitive admin: drive mapping, app installs, updates, backups and gathering info — review before running.
4. Which file extension indicates a Linux/Unix shell script?
- .bat
- .sh (correct answer)
- .ps1
- .vbs
.sh = shell script (Linux/Unix). .bat/.cmd=Windows batch, .ps1=PowerShell, .vbs=VBScript, .py=Python, .js=JavaScript.
5. Which is a good use case for a startup script pushed to many PCs?
- Playing music in the background
- Mapping drives and installing apps (correct answer)
- Mining cryptocurrency on the CPU
- Deleting user files across the disk
Scripts automate onboarding tasks: map drives, install apps, apply settings, run updates — consistent and fast at scale.
6. What is a risk of a script that isn't idempotent or is poorly tested?
- It clearly boosts overall performance
- Unintended repeated changes or system damage (correct answer)
- It produces much nicer on-screen graphics
- It adds more available storage capacity
A poorly tested script can make unintended or repeated changes, delete data or break systems — test in a sandbox first.