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.
During a security audit, a technician notices that an unauthorized person is standing just behind an employee at the secure door, waiting for the employee to badge in so they can enter without badging themselves. What type of social engineering attack is being attempted?
Why wrong: Pretexting involves a fabricated story, not physical proximity. The attacker here is using physical presence, not a story.
B
Baiting
Why wrong: Baiting uses an enticing item to lure the victim. This scenario involves following someone through a door.
C
Tailgating
Tailgating is when an unauthorized person gains access by closely following an authorized person through a secure entry point. This is exactly what is described.
D
Phishing
Why wrong: Phishing is an electronic attack, not a physical one. This is a physical security breach.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Tailgating
This is tailgating (or piggybacking), where an unauthorized person follows an authorized individual into a restricted area without proper authentication. The attacker is exploiting the employee's politeness or lack of awareness.
Key principle: OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Pretexting
Why it's wrong here
Pretexting involves a fabricated story, not physical proximity. The attacker here is using physical presence, not a story.
✗
Baiting
Why it's wrong here
Baiting uses an enticing item to lure the victim. This scenario involves following someone through a door.
✓
Tailgating
Why this is correct
Tailgating is when an unauthorized person gains access by closely following an authorized person through a secure entry point. This is exactly what is described.
Phishing is an electronic attack, not a physical one. This is a physical security breach.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: OSPF can fail even when IP connectivity looks correct
OSPF neighbour formation depends on matching areas, timers, network type, authentication and passive-interface behaviour. Do not choose an answer only because the devices can ping.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Baiting uses an enticing item to lure the victim. This scenario involves following someone through a door.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
OSPF questions usually test the details that control adjacency and route selection. Read the neighbour state, area, router ID and interface configuration before deciding what is wrong.
KKey Concepts to Remember
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
Router ID selection can affect neighbour relationships and LSDB output.
OSPF cost influences the preferred path.
A route can appear in OSPF information but not become the installed route.
TExam Day Tips
→Check area mismatch first when OSPF adjacency fails.
→Review passive interfaces when a network is advertised but no neighbour forms.
→Use show ip ospf neighbor and show ip route clues carefully.
Key takeaway
OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
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. OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough. 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.
Review OSPF neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related 220-1202 OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.
Social Engineering Attacks — This question tests Social Engineering Attacks — OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Tailgating — This is tailgating (or piggybacking), where an unauthorized person follows an authorized individual into a restricted area without proper authentication. The attacker is exploiting the employee's politeness or lack of awareness.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?
Review OSPF neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related 220-1202 OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.
What is the key concept behind this question?
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
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Question Discussion
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