CEH Practice Question: Malware, Social Engineering and Network Attacks
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.
Which TWO of the following are types of social engineering attacks that rely on impersonation?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
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Pretexting
Pretexting is a social engineering attack where the attacker creates a fabricated scenario (pretext) to impersonate an authority figure, colleague, or trusted entity in order to extract sensitive information. It relies on impersonation because the attacker assumes a false identity, such as a help desk technician or law enforcement officer, to gain the victim's trust and compliance.
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.
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Pretexting
Why this is correct
Pretexting is when an attacker impersonates someone to gain information.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Tailgating
Why this is correct
Tailgating involves an attacker impersonating an authorized person by following them.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Baiting
Why it's wrong here
Baiting uses physical media left in the open to trick users, not impersonation.
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Phishing
Why it's wrong here
Phishing uses deceptive emails, but impersonation is not the primary technique.
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Quid pro quo
Why it's wrong here
Quid pro quo offers a service in exchange for information, not impersonation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'impersonation' with any deceptive tactic, but CEH specifically defines pretexting and tailgating as relying on impersonation (e.g., pretending to be an employee), whereas baiting, phishing, and quid pro quo use different psychological triggers like greed, fear, or reciprocity.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In pretexting, the attacker often researches the target (e.g., via OSINT) to craft a believable story, then uses voice calls or in-person visits to impersonate roles like IT support or a vendor. This attack exploits the human tendency to trust authority and can bypass technical controls like firewalls or encryption because it targets the human layer. Real-world examples include attackers posing as bank employees to verify account details or as IRS agents to demand payment.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CEH question in full detail.
Malware, Social Engineering and Network Attacks — This question tests Malware, Social Engineering and Network Attacks — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Pretexting — Pretexting is a social engineering attack where the attacker creates a fabricated scenario (pretext) to impersonate an authority figure, colleague, or trusted entity in order to extract sensitive information. It relies on impersonation because the attacker assumes a false identity, such as a help desk technician or law enforcement officer, to gain the victim's trust and compliance.
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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