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220-1102 Practice Question: A user receives a phone call from someone…
This 220-1102 practice question tests your understanding of a user receives a phone call from someone…. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: vishing is a social engineering attack conducted via phone call.. 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 user receives a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IT help desk. The caller says there is a security problem with the user's account and asks the user to provide their password to resolve the issue. Which type of social engineering attack does this describe?
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 primarily email-based. This attack uses a phone call, which is vishing.
B
Best answer
Vishing
Vishing is the correct term for voice-based phishing. The caller uses a sense of urgency and impersonation to trick the victim into revealing their password.
C
Distractor review
Smishing
Smishing uses SMS/text messages, not phone calls.
D
Distractor review
Pretexting
Pretexting involves creating a false scenario (pretext) to obtain information, often via phone, but it is a broader category. Vishing is a more specific term for a phone call designed to trick the victim into providing information directly.
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 primarily email-based. This attack uses a phone call, which is vishing.
- ✗
Smishing
Smishing uses SMS/text messages, not phone calls.
- ✗
Pretexting
Pretexting involves creating a false scenario (pretext) to obtain information, often via phone, but it is a broader category. Vishing is a more specific term for a phone call designed to trick the victim into providing information directly.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates might confuse vishing with pretexting, as pretexting is a broader category that often involves phone calls.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Vishing, a portmanteau of 'voice' and 'phishing,' specifically refers to social engineering attacks conducted over the phone. In this scenario, the attacker leverages the perceived authority of an IT help desk representative and creates a sense of urgency regarding a 'security problem' to manipulate the user into divulging sensitive information, namely their password. The key differentiator here is the medium of communication: a live phone call. Attackers often use Caller ID spoofing to make the call appear legitimate, further enhancing their credibility and increasing the likelihood of success. The immediate, interactive nature of a phone call can also put pressure on the victim to respond quickly without fully scrutinizing the request, unlike an email where they might have more time to consider. While pretexting involves creating a believable scenario (pretext) to gather information, vishing is a more specific form of attack that utilizes this technique over the phone with the direct goal of obtaining credentials or other sensitive data through impersonation and urgency. Phishing, by contrast, primarily uses email as its vector, often containing malicious links or attachments. Smishing is the SMS (text message) equivalent, employing similar tactics but through text messages. The defining characteristic that makes vishing the precise answer for this question is the use of a phone call as the primary communication method for the social engineering attempt.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Vishing is a social engineering attack conducted via phone call.
- It often involves impersonation and creating a sense of urgency.
- The goal is typically to trick victims into revealing sensitive information.
- Vishing is 'voice phishing,' distinct from email (phishing) or SMS (smishing).
TExam Day Tips
- 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
Vishing is a social engineering attack conducted via phone call.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1102 question test?
Vishing is a social engineering attack conducted via phone call.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Vishing — Vishing (voice phishing) is a social engineering attack conducted over the phone. The attacker impersonates a legitimate entity to extract sensitive information. Pretexting involves creating a fabricated scenario to obtain information, but vishing is the specific term for phone-based attacks. Phishing is email, and smishing is SMS-based.
What should I do if I get this 220-1102 question wrong?
Review vishing is a social engineering attack conducted via phone call., then practise related 220-1102 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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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.