The answer is shredding sensitive documents and using locked bins for discarded materials. Shredding physically destroys information, rendering it irretrievable from trash, while locked bins restrict physical access to waste, directly countering the dumpster diving technique where attackers sift through refuse for confidential data like passwords or network diagrams. On the Certified Ethical Hacker CEH exam, this question tests your understanding of physical security controls within the footprinting and reconnaissance phase, often appearing as a multi-select item where a common trap is choosing “incineration” (effective but not always practical) or “recycling without shredding” (ineffective). A strong memory tip is to think of the “two S’s”: Shred and Secure bins—if the document isn’t readable and the bin isn’t reachable, the dumpster diver has nothing to find.
CEH Social Engineering and Physical Security Practice Question
This CEH practice question tests your understanding of social engineering and physical security. 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.
Which TWO of the following are effective methods to prevent dumpster diving attacks? (Choose two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Shredding sensitive documents before disposal
Shredding sensitive documents before disposal (Option B) is effective because it physically destroys the information, making it impossible to reconstruct from discarded paper. This directly counters dumpster diving, where attackers retrieve documents to extract confidential data like passwords or network diagrams.
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.
✗
Storing all data on encrypted digital media only
Why it's wrong here
Digital storage does not eliminate physical paper documents.
✓
Shredding sensitive documents before disposal
Why this is correct
Shredding renders documents unreadable.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Using locked bins for discarded materials
Why this is correct
Locked bins restrict physical access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Placing documents in recycling bins
Why it's wrong here
Recycling does not protect confidentiality.
✗
Burning all discarded paper documents
Why it's wrong here
Burning is effective but not always practical or allowed; not a standard recommendation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
EC-Council often tests the misconception that any form of destruction (like burning) is equally acceptable, but the CEH exam emphasizes shredding and locked bins as the standard, practical controls, while burning is considered excessive and not a recommended baseline security practice.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Dumpster diving is a physical social engineering attack where adversaries sift through trash to find sensitive information such as employee lists, network topology maps, or sticky notes with passwords. Effective countermeasures include cross-cut shredding (which reduces paper to confetti-sized particles, per NSA/CSS standards) and locked bins that restrict access to authorized personnel only, often combined with a chain of custody for disposal logs.
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 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. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CEH question in full detail.
Social Engineering and Physical Security — This question tests Social Engineering and Physical Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Shredding sensitive documents before disposal — Shredding sensitive documents before disposal (Option B) is effective because it physically destroys the information, making it impossible to reconstruct from discarded paper. This directly counters dumpster diving, where attackers retrieve documents to extract confidential data like passwords or network diagrams.
What should I do if I get this CEH 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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