The answer is smishing, which is the correct term for this SMS-based phishing attack. This is because smishing specifically uses text messages to deliver a fraudulent link that mimics a legitimate source—here, the corporate service desk—to trick recipients into entering credentials on a fake sign-in page, exploiting the urgency of a password expiration notice. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish smishing from other social engineering variants like vishing (voice phishing) or spear phishing (targeted email attacks); a common trap is confusing it with standard phishing, which relies on email rather than SMS. To remember this, think of the "S" in smishing standing for "SMS" and the "ishing" for phishing—SMS + phishing = smishing.
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.
Several employees report receiving SMS messages that appear to come from the corporate service desk. The text says, 'Your password expires today. Review the notice here,' followed by a shortened link that opens a fake sign-in page on a phone browser. Which type of attack is this?
Smishing is phishing delivered through SMS or other text messaging platforms. The message uses urgency and a link to a fake login page to steal credentials.
B
Pretexting
Why wrong: Pretexting is a broader impersonation tactic, but the defining feature here is the SMS delivery channel and fake link.
C
Tailgating
Why wrong: Tailgating is a physical security issue where an unauthorized person follows someone into a restricted area.
D
Spoofing
Why wrong: Spoofing may be part of the technique, but it is not the best overall label for a text-message credential theft attempt.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Smishing
This is smishing because the attack uses SMS messages to deliver a phishing link that directs recipients to a fake sign-in page, attempting to steal their credentials. Smishing is a form of social engineering that exploits the trust in text messaging and the urgency of a password expiration notice to bypass email security filters.
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.
✓
Smishing
Why this is correct
Smishing is phishing delivered through SMS or other text messaging platforms. The message uses urgency and a link to a fake login page to steal credentials.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Pretexting
Why it's wrong here
Pretexting is a broader impersonation tactic, but the defining feature here is the SMS delivery channel and fake link.
✗
Tailgating
Why it's wrong here
Tailgating is a physical security issue where an unauthorized person follows someone into a restricted area.
✗
Spoofing
Why it's wrong here
Spoofing may be part of the technique, but it is not the best overall label for a text-message credential theft attempt.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the distinction between smishing and spoofing, where candidates mistakenly choose spoofing because the SMS appears to come from the service desk, but the core attack vector is the social engineering via SMS, not just the falsified sender information.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Smishing exploits the Short Message Service (SMS) protocol, which lacks built-in authentication or encryption, making it easy for attackers to spoof sender IDs or use URL shorteners (e.g., bit.ly) to hide the malicious destination. In a real-world scenario, attackers often use SMS gateways or compromised devices to send bulk messages, and the fake sign-in page may capture credentials via a man-in-the-middle proxy or simple HTML form, bypassing multi-factor authentication if the user enters both password and token.
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: Smishing — This is smishing because the attack uses SMS messages to deliver a phishing link that directs recipients to a fake sign-in page, attempting to steal their credentials. Smishing is a form of social engineering that exploits the trust in text messaging and the urgency of a password expiration notice to bypass email security filters.
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.
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Question Discussion
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