Which of the following statements pertaining to software testing is incorrect?
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A. B. C. D.C.
Live or actual field data is not recommended for use in the testing procedures because both data types may not cover out of range situations and the correct outputs of the test are unknown.Live data would not be the best data to use because of the lack of anomalies and also because of the risk of exposure to your live data.
Source: KRUTZ, Ronald L.
& VINES, Russel.
D., The CISSP Prep Guide: Mastering the Ten Domains of Computer Security, John Wiley & Sons, 2001, Chapter 7: Applications and Systems Development (page 251).
The correct answer to this question is C. "Testing should be performed with live data to cover all possible situations" is an incorrect statement pertaining to software testing.
Software testing is a critical part of the software development lifecycle (SDLC) that ensures the software meets the requirements, is free from defects, and performs as expected. Software testing involves various techniques and methods that are used to identify and isolate defects in the software.
Let's discuss each of the given options to understand their significance in software testing.
A. Unit testing should be addressed and considered when the modules are being designed: This statement is correct. Unit testing is a type of software testing that involves testing individual units or components of the software. Unit testing should be addressed and considered when the modules are being designed to ensure that the individual units or components work as expected.
B. Test data should be part of the specifications: This statement is correct. Test data is an essential component of software testing. Test data should be part of the specifications to ensure that the software is tested against the correct data sets, and the testing is comprehensive.
C. Testing should be performed with live data to cover all possible situations: This statement is incorrect. Testing should not be performed with live data, as it can be risky and can cause damage to the production environment. Moreover, it is impossible to cover all possible situations with live data. Instead, testing should be performed with test data, which is designed to cover all possible scenarios.
D. Test data generators can be used to systematically generate random test data that can be used to test programs: This statement is correct. Test data generators are tools that can be used to generate test data systematically. The generated test data can be used to test programs and ensure that they perform as expected in various scenarios.
In summary, option C is incorrect as testing should not be performed with live data, and it is impossible to cover all possible situations with live data. Instead, testing should be performed with test data, which is designed to cover all possible scenarios.