220-1202 Social Engineering Attacks Practice Question
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of social engineering attacks. 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.
A technician receives a call from someone claiming to be from the company's IT security team, asking for the administrator password to 'run a critical update.' The caller's voice sounds stressed and they mention a data breach. What should the technician do?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Ask for a callback number and verify it against the company directory.
This is a classic social engineering attempt using urgency and authority to pressure the victim into divulging credentials. The correct response is to verify the caller's identity through official channels before providing any sensitive information.
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.
✗
Provide the password immediately to prevent a data breach.
Why it's wrong here
Providing credentials over the phone without verification is a major security risk and exactly what social engineers want.
✓
Ask for a callback number and verify it against the company directory.
Why this is correct
Verifying the caller's identity through official channels is the standard security procedure to prevent credential theft.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Ignore the call because IT never calls about updates.
Why it's wrong here
While suspicious, ignoring the call without verifying could miss a legitimate issue; verification is the proper step.
✗
Change the password and give them the new one.
Why it's wrong here
Changing the password does not solve the problem; the attacker would still obtain valid credentials.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 220-1202 question in full detail.
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.
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: Ask for a callback number and verify it against the company directory. — This is a classic social engineering attempt using urgency and authority to pressure the victim into divulging credentials. The correct response is to verify the caller's identity through official channels before providing any sensitive information.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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