The answer is an evil twin attack, where a rogue access point impersonates the legitimate corporate wireless network. This is correct because the attacker sets up a device broadcasting the same SSID (CorpWiFi) as the real access point; when the legitimate AP goes offline, client devices automatically roam to the stronger signal of the rogue AP, allowing the attacker to present a fake captive portal that harvests login credentials. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of wireless threats and rogue access point detection—a common trap is confusing it with a man-in-the-middle attack, but the key distinction is that the evil twin relies on SSID spoofing and signal strength to lure devices. Remember the memory tip: “Evil twin clones the name, not the network.”
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.
Employees in a lobby say their phones automatically connected to a wireless network named CorpWiFi, even though the legitimate access point was offline. They were then shown a fake sign-in page. What threat is this?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
An evil twin access point impersonating the real corporate wireless network
This is an evil twin attack. The attacker sets up a rogue access point broadcasting the same SSID (CorpWiFi) as the legitimate network. When the real access point goes offline, client devices automatically connect to the stronger signal of the rogue AP, allowing the attacker to present a fake captive portal to harvest credentials.
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.
✓
An evil twin access point impersonating the real corporate wireless network
Why this is correct
An evil twin is a rogue access point that copies a trusted SSID to lure users into connecting.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
A Bluetooth replay attack that reuses captured pairing data
Why it's wrong here
Bluetooth replay attacks involve wireless protocol reuse, not a fake Wi-Fi access point and login page.
✗
A cloud misconfiguration exposing a storage bucket to the internet
Why it's wrong here
Cloud misconfiguration is a different issue and would not explain a bogus wireless network in the lobby.
✗
A dependency compromise in a software library used by the company portal
Why it's wrong here
Supply-chain compromise affects software packages, not a wireless network impersonation event.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse an evil twin with a rogue access point, but the key distinction is that an evil twin specifically impersonates a legitimate SSID to trick clients into connecting, whereas a rogue AP is simply an unauthorized device on the network.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Evil twin attacks exploit the fact that many client devices automatically reconnect to previously saved SSIDs without verifying the access point's identity. Tools like airbase-ng or hostapd can be used to create a rogue AP with the same SSID and BSSID spoofing. The attacker often uses a captive portal that mimics the corporate login page to steal domain credentials, which can then be used for lateral movement within the network.
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 security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this SY0-701 question in full detail.
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: An evil twin access point impersonating the real corporate wireless network — This is an evil twin attack. The attacker sets up a rogue access point broadcasting the same SSID (CorpWiFi) as the legitimate network. When the real access point goes offline, client devices automatically connect to the stronger signal of the rogue AP, allowing the attacker to present a fake captive portal to harvest credentials.
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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These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Employees in a lobby report that their phones automatically connected to a wireless network named "CorpWiFi." Soon after, they were prompted to sign in through a web page that did not look like the normal company portal. What attack is most likely?
easy
A.Bluetooth pairing attack
✓ B.Evil twin
C.NFC relay attack
D.MAC flooding
Why B: The scenario describes an evil twin attack, where a rogue access point (AP) broadcasts a SSID identical to the legitimate corporate network ("CorpWiFi"). When employees' devices automatically connect to the stronger signal of the rogue AP, they are served a fake captive portal designed to capture credentials or other sensitive data. This attack exploits the lack of mutual authentication in standard 802.11 Wi-Fi associations.
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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.
Question Discussion
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