- A
Tailgating, because the attacker is trying to enter a secure area physically.
Why wrong: Tailgating involves following someone into a restricted physical space, not sending an email request for a secret code.
- B
Pretexting, because the attacker is using a fake identity and story to gain trust.
The attacker is pretending to be IT and inventing a believable support reason to trick the victim into revealing a one-time code.
- C
DDoS, because the message is designed to overwhelm the mailbox server.
Why wrong: A distributed denial-of-service attack floods a service with traffic; it does not rely on impersonation or secret-code theft.
- D
Shoulder surfing, because the attacker is watching the screen from nearby.
Why wrong: Shoulder surfing requires physically observing information, usually over someone's shoulder, rather than sending a deceptive email.
Quick Answer
The answer is pretexting, because the attacker fabricates a false identity and a believable story to manipulate the target. In this scenario, the impersonation of IT support and the invented need for a mailbox repair code create a pretext—a fabricated scenario designed to lower the victim’s defenses and extract sensitive information. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish pretexting from other social engineering techniques like phishing or baiting; a common trap is confusing it with phishing, but pretexting relies on a crafted narrative and role-play rather than just a malicious link or attachment. Remember the key differentiator: pretexting is about the *story* and *false identity* used to gain trust, not the delivery method. A useful memory tip is to think of “pretext” as “pre-text”—the script the attacker rehearses before the interaction.
SY0-701 Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigations. 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.
An employee receives an email from someone claiming to be from IT. The message says the employee must read back a one-time verification code so their mailbox can be 'repaired.' What social engineering technique is being used?
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
Pretexting, because the attacker is using a fake identity and story to gain trust.
The attacker is using a fabricated identity (IT support) and a false scenario (mailbox repair requiring a verification code) to manipulate the employee into divulging sensitive information. This is the classic definition of pretexting, where the attacker creates a believable pretext to lower the victim's defenses and extract data or access.
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.
- ✗
Tailgating, because the attacker is trying to enter a secure area physically.
Why it's wrong here
Tailgating involves following someone into a restricted physical space, not sending an email request for a secret code.
- ✓
Pretexting, because the attacker is using a fake identity and story to gain trust.
Why this is correct
The attacker is pretending to be IT and inventing a believable support reason to trick the victim into revealing a one-time code.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
DDoS, because the message is designed to overwhelm the mailbox server.
Why it's wrong here
A distributed denial-of-service attack floods a service with traffic; it does not rely on impersonation or secret-code theft.
- ✗
Shoulder surfing, because the attacker is watching the screen from nearby.
Why it's wrong here
Shoulder surfing requires physically observing information, usually over someone's shoulder, rather than sending a deceptive email.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse pretexting with phishing, but pretexting specifically relies on a fabricated scenario or identity (the 'pretext') rather than a generic lure like a malicious link or attachment.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Pretexting often involves researching the target to craft a convincing story, such as using the victim's name, department, or recent IT tickets. In this scenario, the attacker may have spoofed the email's 'From' address using SMTP header manipulation (e.g., setting the MAIL FROM field to an internal IT address) to appear legitimate, increasing the likelihood the victim will comply without verifying the request through a separate channel.
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
An employee at a financial services firm receives an email that appears to come from the IT helpdesk, asking them to reset their password via a link. The link leads to a convincing fake portal that harvests credentials. Security teams use phishing simulations and security-awareness training to reduce this attack vector. Questions like this test whether you can identify social engineering techniques and appropriate controls.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations — This question tests Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations — 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 using a fake identity and story to gain trust. — The attacker is using a fabricated identity (IT support) and a false scenario (mailbox repair requiring a verification code) to manipulate the employee into divulging sensitive information. This is the classic definition of pretexting, where the attacker creates a believable pretext to lower the victim's defenses and extract data or access.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 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 SY0-701 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 SY0-701 exam.
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