- A
Vishing
Why wrong: Vishing uses voice calls.
- B
Phishing
A mass email asking for credentials is classic phishing.
- C
Pretexting
Why wrong: Pretexting involves creating a false scenario to gain information.
- D
Spear phishing
Why wrong: Spear phishing is targeted; the scenario is generic, so general phishing.
Question 698 of 1,000
200-201 Security Concepts Practice Question
This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of security concepts. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
An attacker sends an email that appears to come from the company's IT department, asking the recipient to click a link and reset their password due to a security breach. Which type of social engineering is this?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Phishing
B is correct because the attack uses email as the delivery vector to trick the recipient into clicking a malicious link and divulging credentials. This matches the definition of phishing, which is a broad social engineering technique that employs deceptive electronic communications (typically email) to steal sensitive information. The email impersonates the IT department to create a false sense of urgency, a hallmark of phishing campaigns.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Vishing
Why it's wrong here
Vishing uses voice calls.
- ✓
Phishing
Why this is correct
A mass email asking for credentials is classic phishing.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Pretexting
Why it's wrong here
Pretexting involves creating a false scenario to gain information.
- ✗
Spear phishing
Why it's wrong here
Spear phishing is targeted; the scenario is generic, so general phishing.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'phishing' with 'spear phishing' because both involve email, but the key differentiator is that spear phishing is targeted and personalized, while the question describes a generic, untargeted email sent to a broad audience.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Pretexting involves creating a false scenario to gain information.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Phishing attacks often exploit SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) weaknesses, such as spoofed 'From' headers, to make emails appear legitimate. Attackers may also use URL obfuscation techniques, like homograph attacks or shortened URLs, to hide the true destination. In a real-world scenario, a phishing email might include a link to a fake login page that captures credentials via HTTP POST requests, which are then exfiltrated to an attacker-controlled server.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 200-201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Security Concepts — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Security Concepts practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All 200-201 questions
1,000 questions across all exam domains
- →
Cisco CyberOps Associate 200-201 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
200-201 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related 200-201 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Security Monitoring practice questions
Practise 200-201 questions linked to Security Monitoring.
Network Intrusion Analysis practice questions
Practise 200-201 questions linked to Network Intrusion Analysis.
Security Policies and Procedures practice questions
Practise 200-201 questions linked to Security Policies and Procedures.
Host-Based Analysis practice questions
Practise 200-201 questions linked to Host-Based Analysis.
Security Concepts practice questions
Practise 200-201 questions linked to Security Concepts.
200-201 fundamentals practice questions
Practise 200-201 questions linked to 200-201 fundamentals.
200-201 scenario practice questions
Practise 200-201 questions linked to 200-201 scenario.
200-201 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise 200-201 questions linked to 200-201 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free 200-201 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-201 question test?
Security Concepts — This question tests Security Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Phishing — B is correct because the attack uses email as the delivery vector to trick the recipient into clicking a malicious link and divulging credentials. This matches the definition of phishing, which is a broad social engineering technique that employs deceptive electronic communications (typically email) to steal sensitive information. The email impersonates the IT department to create a false sense of urgency, a hallmark of phishing campaigns.
What should I do if I get this 200-201 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This 200-201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-201 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.