220-1102 Security Practice Question
A user receives an email that appears to be from the company's IT department, stating that their email password will expire in 24 hours and asks them to click a link to renew it. The link goes to a page that looks exactly like the company's login portal, but the URL is slightly different. The user enters their credentials. Which type of social engineering attack has occurred?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the distinction between generic phishing and targeted spear phishing; the trap here is that candidates see a personalized-looking email (e.g., 'Dear User') and incorrectly assume it is spear phishing, but the lack of specific personal details (like name, job title, or department) makes it generic phishing.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Phishing
This is a classic phishing attack because the email is a generic, mass-distributed message impersonating the IT department to trick the user into revealing credentials. The attack does not target a specific individual (spear phishing) or a high-profile executive (whaling), and it uses a link rather than a phone call (vishing). The fake login page with a slightly different URL is a hallmark of phishing, often leveraging URL obfuscation or homograph attacks.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Phishing
Why this is correct
Phishing is a broad, indiscriminate cyberattack in which an attacker sends mass emails impersonating a legitimate organization (such as the user's own company) to trick recipients into revealing credentials, downloading malware, or clicking malicious links. The deceptive email typically relies on urgency, fear, or curiosity, and it is not customized for any particular target. This scenario matches that general pattern, making phishing the correct classification.
- ✗
Spear phishing
Why it's wrong here
Spear phishing is a targeted variant of phishing where the attacker conducts reconnaissance on a specific victim and weaves personal details (such as their name, job title, or recent purchases) into the message to increase its credibility. The scenario describes a generic email that appears to be from the company, with no indication of individualized content or reconnaissance. Because the attack lacks personalization, spear phishing does not accurately describe this threat.
- ✗
Whaling
Why it's wrong here
Whaling is a specialized form of spear phishing that specifically targets senior executives or high-value individuals (CEOs, CFOs, etc.) who have access to sensitive financial or strategic information. The attack is highly customized and focuses on a specific person in a position of authority. In this scenario there is no evidence that the recipient is a senior executive, so whaling is not the right classification.
- ✗
Vishing
Why it's wrong here
Vishing (voice phishing) is a social-engineering attack that uses phone calls, voicemail, or voice-over-IP (VoIP) systems to trick victims into divulging confidential data or performing unauthorized actions. Because the attack vector in this scenario is an email message, vishing does not apply. The distinction is critical when classifying incidents, as the delivery method is a primary differentiator between phishing and vishing.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Social Engineering for A+
Key term
Social engineering
Social engineering is the psychological manipulation of people into divulging confidential information or performing actions that compromise security.
Key term
Spear phishing
Spear phishing is a targeted cyberattack in which a criminal sends a fraudulent email that appears to come from a trusted source, aiming to trick a specific person or organization into revealing sensitive data or installing malware.
About these practice questions
This 220-1102 question is part of Courseiva's 925-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.