This CEH practice question tests your understanding of malware, social engineering and network attacks. 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 attacker gains physical access to a building by following an authorized employee through a secure door without using a badge. Which social engineering technique is being used?
Pretexting
Why wrong: Pretexting involves fabricating a scenario to obtain information.
Tailgating
Tailgating is physically following someone through a secure entrance.
Baiting
Why wrong: Baiting uses physical media left in tempting locations.
Quid pro quo
Why wrong: Quid pro quo offers a service in exchange for information.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Tailgating
Tailgating is when an unauthorized person follows an authorized individual into a restricted area without consent. It is a physical security breach.
Key principle: OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Pretexting
Why it's wrong here
Pretexting involves fabricating a scenario to obtain information.
Tailgating
Why this is correct
Tailgating is physically following someone through a secure entrance.
Related concept
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
Baiting
Why it's wrong here
Baiting uses physical media left in tempting locations.
Quid pro quo
Why it's wrong here
Quid pro quo offers a service in exchange for information.
Common exam traps
OSPF neighbour formation depends on matching areas, timers, network type, authentication and passive-interface behaviour. Do not choose an answer only because the devices can ping.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Pretexting involves fabricating a scenario to obtain information.
Detailed technical explanation
OSPF questions usually test the details that control adjacency and route selection. Read the neighbour state, area, router ID and interface configuration before deciding what is wrong.
Key takeaway
OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the CEH exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. OSPF neighbour adjacency depends on matching area, hello/dead timers, network type, and authentication — IP reachability alone is not enough. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Review OSPF neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related CEH OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.
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FAQ
Malware, Social Engineering and Network Attacks — This question tests Malware, Social Engineering and Network Attacks — OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters..
The correct answer is: Tailgating — Tailgating is when an unauthorized person follows an authorized individual into a restricted area without consent. It is a physical security breach.
Review OSPF neighbour requirements — matching area type, hello and dead timers, network type, stub flags, and authentication. Study show ip ospf neighbor states (INIT, 2-WAY, FULL). Then practise related CEH OSPF questions on adjacency and route selection.
OSPF neighbours must agree on key parameters.
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Last reviewed: Jun 21, 2026
This CEH practice question is part of Courseiva's free EC-Council 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 CEH exam.
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