The correct answer is a man-in-the-middle attack. This is because on an open public Wi-Fi network, an attacker can position themselves between the user and the server, intercepting all data that is not encrypted. When a browser uses HTTP instead of HTTPS, login credentials are transmitted in plaintext, making them trivial to capture and read. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of network security risks and the importance of encryption; a common trap is assuming the attack must be malware-based rather than a simple interception of unencrypted traffic. Remember the key takeaway: no HTTPS on public Wi-Fi equals a man-in-the-middle attack waiting to happen. A useful memory tip is to think of “HTTP = Hacked Traffic, Plaintext” to recall that without the “S” for secure, your data is exposed.
220-1102 Browser and Application Security Practice Question
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of browser and application security. 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 technician is investigating a security incident where a user's credentials were stolen. The user says they only logged into their email from a coffee shop Wi-Fi. The technician notices that the browser was not using HTTPS for the login page. What is the most likely attack method used?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Why wrong: XSS attacks inject malicious scripts into web pages, but they do not directly steal credentials from HTTP traffic on Wi-Fi.
B
Man-in-the-middle attack.
An attacker on the same network can intercept unencrypted HTTP traffic and capture login credentials.
C
DNS spoofing attack.
Why wrong: DNS spoofing could redirect to a fake site, but the lack of HTTPS still allows credential interception; however, the direct capture of HTTP traffic is more straightforward.
D
Brute force attack.
Why wrong: A brute force attack tries many passwords, but the scenario describes a single login session over unencrypted HTTP, not repeated attempts.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Man-in-the-middle attack.
On an open Wi-Fi network, an attacker can perform a man-in-the-middle attack to intercept unencrypted HTTP traffic. Without HTTPS, the login credentials are sent in plaintext and can be captured easily. This is a common risk on public Wi-Fi.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Cross-site scripting (XSS) attack.
Why it's wrong here
XSS attacks inject malicious scripts into web pages, but they do not directly steal credentials from HTTP traffic on Wi-Fi.
✓
Man-in-the-middle attack.
Why this is correct
An attacker on the same network can intercept unencrypted HTTP traffic and capture login credentials.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
DNS spoofing attack.
Why it's wrong here
DNS spoofing could redirect to a fake site, but the lack of HTTPS still allows credential interception; however, the direct capture of HTTP traffic is more straightforward.
✗
Brute force attack.
Why it's wrong here
A brute force attack tries many passwords, but the scenario describes a single login session over unencrypted HTTP, not repeated attempts.
Common exam traps
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.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
A brute force attack tries many passwords, but the scenario describes a single login session over unencrypted HTTP, not repeated attempts.
Detailed technical explanation
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.
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. 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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 220-1202 question in full detail.
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.
Browser and Application Security — This question tests Browser and Application Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Man-in-the-middle attack. — On an open Wi-Fi network, an attacker can perform a man-in-the-middle attack to intercept unencrypted HTTP traffic. Without HTTPS, the login credentials are sent in plaintext and can be captured easily. This is a common risk on public Wi-Fi.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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