Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A security analyst receives an alert from the email security gateway about a message sent to an employee. The email has an attachment named 'Invoice_Q4_2024.exe'. The employee claims they did not open the attachment, and the email appears to come from a known vendor's domain but the sender address has a slight typo. Which type of attack is most likely being attempted?
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
Spear phishing
Spear phishing is a targeted version of phishing aimed at a specific individual or organization. While the email is sent to an employee, the question does not provide evidence of tailored content or reconnaissance, so the broader category 'phishing' is more appropriate.
B
Best answer
Phishing
Phishing is a social engineering attack that uses deceptive emails and malicious attachments to trick recipients into executing malware or revealing sensitive information. The typo-squatted sender address and executable attachment are classic indicators of a phishing attempt.
C
Distractor review
Smishing
Smishing (SMS phishing) uses text messages rather than email. Since the attack vector is email, smishing does not apply.
D
Distractor review
Vishing
Vishing (voice phishing) uses phone calls or voicemail messages. The attack described involves an email attachment, so vishing is not correct.
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: Phishing — This scenario describes a phishing attack that uses a malicious executable disguised as a business document. The typo in the sender address indicates email spoofing, and the .exe attachment is a common vector for malware delivery. Spear phishing targets specific individuals, but the term 'phishing' broadly covers the use of deceptive emails and malicious attachments. Smishing is SMS-based, and vishing is voice-based. Thus, the correct answer is phishing.
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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