- A
Proceed with the setup as planned, since the employee already provided the info.
Why wrong: This is dangerous because the credentials have been compromised. Continuing as normal could lead to a security breach.
- B
Reset the employee's password and report the incident to the security team.
The correct response is to immediately reset the compromised password and report the social engineering attempt to the security team so they can investigate and prevent further attacks.
- C
Call the help desk to verify if they made the call.
Why wrong: While verification is good, the priority is to secure the compromised account first. The technician should not wait for verification before taking action.
- D
Tell the employee it was likely a test and to ignore it.
Why wrong: Dismissing the incident as a test is irresponsible. The technician must treat it as a genuine security threat and follow proper incident response procedures.
220-1202 Social Engineering Attacks Practice Question
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of social engineering attacks. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
A technician is configuring a new employee's workstation. The employee mentions that a 'friendly IT guy' from the help desk called earlier and asked for their username and temporary password to 'pre-setup the account'. The employee provided the information. What should the technician do first?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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
Reset the employee's password and report the incident to the security team.
This is a social engineering attack where the attacker posed as IT support. The technician should immediately report the incident to the security team and flag the account as compromised, as the credentials are now in the hands of an attacker.
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.
- ✗
Proceed with the setup as planned, since the employee already provided the info.
Why it's wrong here
This is dangerous because the credentials have been compromised. Continuing as normal could lead to a security breach.
- ✓
Reset the employee's password and report the incident to the security team.
Why this is correct
The correct response is to immediately reset the compromised password and report the social engineering attempt to the security team so they can investigate and prevent further attacks.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Call the help desk to verify if they made the call.
Why it's wrong here
While verification is good, the priority is to secure the compromised account first. The technician should not wait for verification before taking action.
- ✗
Tell the employee it was likely a test and to ignore it.
Why it's wrong here
Dismissing the incident as a test is irresponsible. The technician must treat it as a genuine security threat and follow proper incident response procedures.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 220-1202 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 220-1202 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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Social Engineering Attacks — study guide chapter
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Social Engineering Attacks practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1202 question test?
Social Engineering Attacks — This question tests Social Engineering Attacks — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Reset the employee's password and report the incident to the security team. — This is a social engineering attack where the attacker posed as IT support. The technician should immediately report the incident to the security team and flag the account as compromised, as the credentials are now in the hands of an attacker.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?
Identify which 220-1202 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 19, 2026
This 220-1202 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 220-1202 exam.
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