Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A caller claims to be from the company's SaaS provider and says a tenant migration will fail unless the help desk reads back a one-time verification code sent to an administrator's phone. The caller knows the admin's name and ticket number. What attack technique is being used?
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
Best answer
Pretexting, because the attacker is inventing a believable support story to gain trust.
The attacker is using a fabricated identity and a credible business scenario to manipulate the help desk into revealing a verification code. That is classic pretexting. The known name and ticket number are used to increase legitimacy, but the key behavior is the false story intended to bypass normal trust checks.
B
Distractor review
Watering hole, because the attacker is targeting a trusted web service used by employees.
A watering hole attack compromises a website to infect visitors. This scenario is a live phone-based deception attempt instead.
C
Distractor review
Tailgating, because the attacker is attempting to bypass a physical security barrier.
Tailgating involves physical entry behind an authorized person. There is no physical access attempt in this scenario.
D
Distractor review
Whaling, because the attacker is targeting a high-value executive account directly.
Whaling is a focused phishing attack against senior executives. Here the attacker is targeting the help desk through a support scam.
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.
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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 laptop is suspected of being used in a malware incident. It is still powered on and connected to Wi-Fi. What should the responder do before shutting it down?
Question 2
An employee reports a ransomware note on a file server. The server is still powered on, shares are still being accessed, and management wants service restored as quickly as possible. What should the incident response team do first?
Question 3
An employee reports a ransomware note on a finance laptop. The laptop is still powered on, connected to Wi-Fi, and the user says they were just working in a spreadsheet. Management wants the fastest safe response that also preserves evidence. What should the responder do first?
Question 4
You are handed a company laptop suspected in an insider theft case. Legal says the evidence may be needed in court. Which action best preserves admissibility?
Question 5
A developer wants to reduce the risk of SQL injection in a new customer search form. Which two changes are the best mitigations? Select two.
Question 6
A branch office uses a flat LAN, and a compromise on one user workstation could spread quickly to finance systems. Management wants finance workstations isolated from general users, but finance staff still need access to a central finance application and network printer. What is the best design change?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Pretexting, because the attacker is inventing a believable support story to gain trust. — This is pretexting because the attacker is constructing a believable support story to manipulate the help desk into disclosing an MFA code. The goal is to exploit trust and urgency rather than technical vulnerabilities. The ticket number and the admin's name are only used to make the story sound authentic. Security staff should verify requests through a separate trusted channel before taking action. Why others are wrong: Watering hole attacks rely on a compromised website or service, not a live support call. Tailgating is a physical social engineering tactic and does not fit a phone request. Whaling targets executives with phishing messages, usually by email or similar electronic communication, not a help desk phone conversation. The defining element here is the fabricated support narrative.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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