Quick Answer
The answer is baiting. This is correct because baiting exploits human curiosity and greed by offering something enticing—in this case, a USB drive labeled 'Employee Salary Info Q4'—to trick a user into inserting a malicious device. The attacker relies on the victim’s psychological impulse to access sensitive or valuable information, bypassing technical security controls entirely. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, baiting is a common social engineering scenario that tests your ability to distinguish it from other attacks like phishing or tailgating; a frequent trap is confusing it with phishing, but remember that baiting always involves a physical or digital lure (like a USB or infected download) rather than a deceptive message. A useful memory tip: think of “bait” as a literal hook—if the attacker leaves something tempting for you to pick up, it’s baiting.
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.
During a security audit, a technician finds that a user's workstation was infected with malware after the user inserted a USB drive found in the parking lot. The drive was labeled 'Employee Salary Info Q4'. What social engineering principle did the attacker exploit?
Scarcity
Why wrong: Scarcity involves limited availability, not the temptation of a found item.
Baiting
Baiting is the correct term, as the attacker left a malicious device (the bait) to exploit the user's curiosity.
Pretexting
Why wrong: Pretexting involves a fabricated scenario, not a physical object left in a public place.
Tailgating
Why wrong: Tailgating is about physical entry, not using a found USB drive.
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 attack exploits curiosity and the baiting principle, where an attacker leaves a malicious device in a place where it will be found. The enticing label increases the likelihood of someone picking it up. This is a form of social engineering that relies on human psychology rather than technical vulnerabilities.
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.
Scarcity
Why it's wrong here
Scarcity involves limited availability, not the temptation of a found item.
Baiting
Why this is correct
Baiting is the correct term, as the attacker left a malicious device (the bait) to exploit the user's curiosity.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Pretexting
Why it's wrong here
Pretexting involves a fabricated scenario, not a physical object left in a public place.
Tailgating
Why it's wrong here
Tailgating is about physical entry, not using a found USB drive.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Pretexting involves a fabricated scenario, not a physical object left in a public place.
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
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Social Engineering Attacks practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All 220-1202 questions
750 questions across all exam domains
CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
220-1202 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Windows OS Features and Tools.
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Windows Settings and Control Panel.
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Windows Command-Line Tools.
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Windows Administrative Tools.
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to macOS Features and Tools.
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Linux Commands and File Permissions.
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Mobile OS Features and Tools.
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Virtualization and Cloud Technologies.
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Physical Security Controls.
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Logical Security Concepts.
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Wireless Security Protocols.
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Malware Types and Removal.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
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 attack exploits curiosity and the baiting principle, where an attacker leaves a malicious device in a place where it will be found. The enticing label increases the likelihood of someone picking it up. This is a form of social engineering that relies on human psychology rather than technical vulnerabilities.
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.
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 →
Keep practising
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.
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.