- A
Reply to the email asking for more details to confirm the request.
Why wrong: Replying to the attacker confirms the email address is valid and may lead to further social engineering. Verification should be done through a separate channel.
- B
Forward the email to the security team and do not respond.
The correct action is to report the suspicious email to the security team for investigation and not engage with the potential attacker. This follows proper incident response protocols.
- C
Provide the list as requested, since the CEO has authority.
Why wrong: Sharing passwords is never acceptable, even from a legitimate source. This would be a massive security breach.
- D
Call the CEO immediately to verify the request.
Why wrong: While verification is good, the technician should not take any action that could compromise security without first consulting the security team. Forwarding to security is the priority.
Quick Answer
The best course of action is to forward the email to the security team and not respond. This is correct because the email is a classic social engineering attack known as whaling or spear phishing, where an attacker impersonates a high-level executive to manipulate an employee into violating security policies. Legitimate security audits never require password lists, and sharing credentials would compromise the entire organization. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of social engineering red flags and the proper incident response workflow—a common trap is the impulse to reply or call the CEO directly using the contact info in the suspicious email, which could further expose you. Instead, always verify unusual requests through a separate, trusted communication channel like a phone call or in-person conversation. Memory tip: “Don’t reply, just report—verify through a separate port.”
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 an email from what appears to be the company's CEO, asking for a list of all employee passwords for a 'security audit'. The email address is correct, but the tone and request are unusual. The technician suspects a social engineering attack. What is the best course of action?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
Forward the email to the security team and do not respond.
This is likely a whaling or spear phishing attack impersonating the CEO. The technician should never share passwords and should verify the request through a separate communication channel (e.g., phone call or in-person) before taking any action. Reporting to the security team is also critical.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Reply to the email asking for more details to confirm the request.
Why it's wrong here
Replying to the attacker confirms the email address is valid and may lead to further social engineering. Verification should be done through a separate channel.
- ✓
Forward the email to the security team and do not respond.
Why this is correct
The correct action is to report the suspicious email to the security team for investigation and not engage with the potential attacker. This follows proper incident response protocols.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
Provide the list as requested, since the CEO has authority.
Why it's wrong here
Sharing passwords is never acceptable, even from a legitimate source. This would be a massive security breach.
- ✗
Call the CEO immediately to verify the request.
Why it's wrong here
While verification is good, the technician should not take any action that could compromise security without first consulting the security team. Forwarding to security is the priority.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 220-1202 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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Social Engineering Attacks — study guide chapter
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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 — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Forward the email to the security team and do not respond. — This is likely a whaling or spear phishing attack impersonating the CEO. The technician should never share passwords and should verify the request through a separate communication channel (e.g., phone call or in-person) before taking any action. Reporting to the security team is also critical.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 220-1202 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 19, 2026
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