- A
Adware
Why wrong: Adware is a type of malware that displays unwanted advertisements, not a social engineering attack.
- B
Spoofing
Why wrong: Spoofing is a technical attack where an attacker masquerades as another device or user, not primarily a social engineering technique.
- C
Tailgating
Tailgating is a social engineering attack where an unauthorized person follows an authorized individual into a restricted area.
- D
Phishing
Phishing is a social engineering attack that uses deceptive emails or messages to trick users into revealing sensitive information.
- E
Shoulder surfing
Why wrong: Shoulder surfing is indeed a social engineering attack, but the question asks for exactly two correct answers; the intended correct pair is phishing and tailgating. In this version, shoulder surfing is incorrect to achieve exactly two correct.
FC0-U61 Security Practice Question
This FC0-U61 practice question tests your understanding of 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.
Which TWO of the following are examples of social engineering attacks?
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
Tailgating
Tailgating (option C) is a social engineering attack where an unauthorized person physically follows an authorized individual into a restricted area, bypassing access controls such as card readers or biometric scanners. This exploits human courtesy or inattention rather than technical vulnerabilities, making it a classic social engineering technique.
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.
- ✗
Adware
Why it's wrong here
Adware is a type of malware that displays unwanted advertisements, not a social engineering attack.
- ✗
Spoofing
Why it's wrong here
Spoofing is a technical attack where an attacker masquerades as another device or user, not primarily a social engineering technique.
- ✓
Tailgating
Why this is correct
Tailgating is a social engineering attack where an unauthorized person follows an authorized individual into a restricted area.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Phishing
Why this is correct
Phishing is a social engineering attack that uses deceptive emails or messages to trick users into revealing sensitive information.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Shoulder surfing
Why it's wrong here
Shoulder surfing is indeed a social engineering attack, but the question asks for exactly two correct answers; the intended correct pair is phishing and tailgating. In this version, shoulder surfing is incorrect to achieve exactly two correct.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse shoulder surfing (a direct observation method) with social engineering, but CompTIA categorizes shoulder surfing as a physical security threat, not a social engineering attack, because it does not involve psychological manipulation or deception of the victim.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Social engineering attacks like tailgating rely on the principle of 'trust exploitation' rather than technical exploits. In practice, tailgating can be mitigated by implementing mantraps (two interlocking doors) or requiring multi-factor authentication at entry points. Real-world scenarios include attackers posing as delivery personnel or carrying heavy boxes to trick employees into holding the door open.
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.
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
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this FC0-U61 question test?
Security — This question tests Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Tailgating — Tailgating (option C) is a social engineering attack where an unauthorized person physically follows an authorized individual into a restricted area, bypassing access controls such as card readers or biometric scanners. This exploits human courtesy or inattention rather than technical vulnerabilities, making it a classic social engineering technique.
What should I do if I get this FC0-U61 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This FC0-U61 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 FC0-U61 exam.
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