Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →Question 294 of 1,000
mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
220-1102 Practice Question: A security analyst notices that the CFO of the…
This 220-1102 practice question tests your understanding of a security analyst notices that the cfo of the…. 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 security analyst notices that the CFO of the company received an email that appears to be from the company's external legal counsel. The email requests that the CFO click a link to review an urgent contract. The email address is spoofed to look similar to the real one. Which type of social engineering attack is this?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
Phishing
Phishing is a broad term that describes mass, untargeted emails sent to many users. This attack is specifically targeted at the CFO, making it more than generic phishing.
B
Distractor review
Spear phishing
Spear phishing targets a specific individual or group, but when the target is a senior executive, it is more precisely called whaling. This scenario targets the CFO, a high-value executive.
C
Best answer
Whaling
Whaling is a targeted social engineering attack aimed at senior executives like the CFO. The email appears legitimate and urgent, tricking the executive into clicking a malicious link.
D
Distractor review
Smishing
Smishing is a social engineering attack that uses SMS text messages, not email. The attack vector here is email, not text.
Answer analysis
Why the other options are wrong
Understanding why incorrect options are tempting is as important as knowing the correct answer.
- ✗
Phishing
Phishing is a broad term that describes mass, untargeted emails sent to many users. This attack is specifically targeted at the CFO, making it more than generic phishing.
- ✗
Spear phishing
Spear phishing targets a specific individual or group, but when the target is a senior executive, it is more precisely called whaling. This scenario targets the CFO, a high-value executive.
- ✗
Smishing
Smishing is a social engineering attack that uses SMS text messages, not email. The attack vector here is email, not text.
Common exam trap
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.
Technical deep dive
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.
Related practice questions
Related 220-1102 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
CompTIA A+ hardware practice questions
Practise 220-1102 questions linked to CompTIA A+ hardware.
CompTIA A+ mobile devices practice questions
Practise 220-1102 questions linked to CompTIA A+ mobile devices.
CompTIA A+ networking practice questions
Practise 220-1102 questions linked to CompTIA A+ networking.
CompTIA A+ operating systems practice questions
Practise 220-1102 questions linked to CompTIA A+ operating systems.
CompTIA A+ security practice questions
Practise 220-1102 questions linked to CompTIA A+ security.
CompTIA A+ software troubleshooting questions
Practise 220-1102 questions linked to CompTIA A+ software troubleshooting questions.
CompTIA A+ operational procedures questions
Practise 220-1102 questions linked to CompTIA A+ operational procedures questions.
More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A change advisory board (CAB) approved a standard change to update antivirus definitions on all servers. The technician completes the update on a file server and verifies the server is functioning normally. According to change management best practices, what documentation should the technician complete?
Question 2
A company's change management policy requires all server changes to be approved by the Change Advisory Board (CAB). A technician discovers that a critical database server's operating system needs a security patch to comply with a new regulatory requirement that takes effect in one week. The patch has a known risk of causing service downtime. The next scheduled CAB meeting is in two weeks. What should the technician do FIRST?
Question 3
A company is implementing a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy and needs to ensure that corporate data on employee mobile devices is protected. Which of the following is the MOST important technical control to implement?
Question 4
A company requires employees to present both a smart card and a PIN to log into their workstations. Which authentication principle is being implemented?
Question 5
A company requires all Windows 10 workstations to be able to join an Active Directory domain. Which edition of Windows 10 must be installed on these workstations?
Question 6
A company wants to allow employees to securely access internal resources from home via the internet. Which method provides the highest level of security for remote desktop connections?
Practice this exam
Start a free 220-1102 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1102 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Whaling — Whaling is a type of spear phishing that specifically targets senior executives or high-profile individuals within an organization. In this scenario, the CFO is a senior executive, and the email is personalized and appears to come from a trusted source (external legal counsel). Phishing is a broader term for fraudulent emails sent to many users. Spear phishing is targeted but not necessarily at executives. Smishing uses SMS text messages, not email.
What should I do if I get this 220-1102 question wrong?
Identify which 220-1102 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.
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
More 220-1102 practice questions
- A change advisory board (CAB) approved a standard change to update antivirus definitions on all servers. The technician…
- A company's change management policy requires all server changes to be approved by the Change Advisory Board (CAB). A te…
- A company is implementing a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy and needs to ensure that corporate data on employee mobi…
- A company requires employees to present both a smart card and a PIN to log into their workstations. Which authentication…
- A company requires all Windows 10 workstations to be able to join an Active Directory domain. Which edition of Windows 1…
- A company wants to allow employees to securely access internal resources from home via the internet. Which method provid…
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.
Loading comments…
Sign in to join the discussion.
This 220-1102 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 220-1102 exam.