Quick Answer
The answer is baiting. This is the correct choice because baiting is a social engineering attack that lures a victim with a tempting offer—in this case, a USB drive labeled 'Employee Bonuses Q4' left in a parking lot—exploiting human curiosity or greed to bypass technical security controls. When the employee plugs the drive into their work computer, the attacker’s malware executes, compromising the system. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish baiting from other attacks like phishing or tailgating; a common trap is confusing it with phishing, but remember that baiting often involves physical media or a tangible reward. A helpful memory tip: think of the USB drive as literal bait on a hook—the attacker is fishing for a victim to take the bite.
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.
An employee finds a USB drive labeled 'Employee Bonuses Q4' in the parking lot and plugs it into their work computer to see the contents. The computer immediately begins exhibiting erratic behavior. Which social engineering attack was executed?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "immediately / without restart"
Why it matters: Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
Phishing
Why wrong: Phishing is digital (email, websites), not physical USB drops.
Pretexting
Why wrong: Pretexting involves a fabricated story, not leaving physical bait.
Baiting
Baiting uses an enticing item (like a labeled USB drive) to trick a victim into introducing malware into a system.
Tailgating
Why wrong: Tailgating is about following someone into a secure area, not using physical media.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Baiting
This is a classic baiting attack using physical media. The attacker left a USB drive with an enticing label (bait) in a location where an employee would find it, hoping they would plug it in and execute malware.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Phishing
Why it's wrong here
Phishing is digital (email, websites), not physical USB drops.
Pretexting
Why it's wrong here
Pretexting involves a fabricated story, not leaving physical bait.
Baiting
Why this is correct
Baiting uses an enticing item (like a labeled USB drive) to trick a victim into introducing malware into a system.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "immediately / without restart" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Tailgating
Why it's wrong here
Tailgating is about following someone into a secure area, not using physical media.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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 — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Social Engineering Attacks — This question tests Social Engineering Attacks — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Baiting — This is a classic baiting attack using physical media. The attacker left a USB drive with an enticing label (bait) in a location where an employee would find it, hoping they would plug it in and execute malware.
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.
Yes — watch for: "immediately / without restart". Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
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 →
Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A customer complains that their computer is running slowly and they keep seeing pop-ups offering free antivirus software. They admit they clicked 'OK' on one pop-up. Which type of social engineering attack has likely occurred?
mediumWhy B: This is a classic baiting attack where the attacker lures the victim with a free offer (antivirus) that actually installs malware. The pop-ups are a common delivery method for scareware or fake antivirus programs.
Last reviewed: Jun 19, 2026
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