The answer is to use phishing-resistant MFA with number matching or hardware security keys. This control best reduces the success of MFA fatigue attacks because it eliminates the attacker’s ability to exploit user error through repeated push notifications. Number matching forces the user to enter a code from the login screen into the approval prompt, ensuring the approval is tied to a legitimate, real-time authentication attempt, while hardware security keys like FIDO2 use cryptographic challenge-response that cannot be replayed or intercepted. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of social engineering combined with authentication weaknesses—a common trap is choosing “user training” alone, but the question asks for a technical control that directly prevents the attack. Remember the mnemonic “Push No, Match Yes” to recall that number matching stops the fatigue trick.
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.
A user reports receiving repeated MFA push requests even though they are not logging in. Later, someone calls and claims to be IT, asking the user to approve one prompt so support can finish a password reset. Which control would best reduce the success of this attack?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use phishing-resistant MFA with number matching or hardware security keys
Option B is correct because phishing-resistant MFA, such as number matching or hardware security keys (e.g., FIDO2/WebAuthn), prevents an attacker from tricking the user into approving a fraudulent push request. Number matching requires the user to enter a number displayed on the login screen into the MFA prompt, ensuring the approval is tied to an actual authentication attempt. Hardware security keys use cryptographic challenge-response, making it impossible for an attacker to replay or intercept the authentication factor.
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.
✗
Increase password complexity requirements
Why it's wrong here
Password complexity alone does not stop attackers who already have the password and are abusing push prompts.
✓
Use phishing-resistant MFA with number matching or hardware security keys
Why this is correct
These controls require stronger user verification and reduce the chance that a simple push approval will defeat MFA.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Shorten the screen-lock timeout on user devices
Why it's wrong here
Screen-lock settings help device security, but they do not address the social engineering of MFA approvals.
✗
Allow users to approve any MFA prompt sent during business hours
Why it's wrong here
Broad approval rules make the attack easier by normalizing unexpected prompts instead of preventing misuse.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse MFA fatigue with password-based attacks and incorrectly choose password complexity (A) or screen-lock timeout (C), failing to recognize that the core vulnerability is the user's ability to approve a push without verifying the context.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Number matching works by displaying a dynamic number on the authentication screen (e.g., the login portal) that the user must enter into the MFA app, ensuring the approval corresponds to a specific login attempt. Hardware security keys (FIDO2/WebAuthn) use public-key cryptography where the private key never leaves the device, and the authentication is bound to the origin (Relying Party ID), preventing phishing attacks even if the user is tricked into visiting a fake site. In real-world MFA fatigue attacks, attackers send repeated push notifications until the user accidentally approves one, which number matching or hardware keys completely mitigate.
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.
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: Use phishing-resistant MFA with number matching or hardware security keys — Option B is correct because phishing-resistant MFA, such as number matching or hardware security keys (e.g., FIDO2/WebAuthn), prevents an attacker from tricking the user into approving a fraudulent push request. Number matching requires the user to enter a number displayed on the login screen into the MFA prompt, ensuring the approval is tied to an actual authentication attempt. Hardware security keys use cryptographic challenge-response, making it impossible for an attacker to replay or intercept the authentication factor.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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