- A
Urgency
Why wrong: While there is an element of urgency, the primary tactic is the false sense of authority from the 'IT department' claim.
- B
Scarcity
Why wrong: Scarcity involves limited-time offers or resources, not relevant to a security update request.
- C
Authority
Authority is the correct answer, as the attacker uses the perceived power of IT to gain compliance.
- D
Social proof
Why wrong: Social proof relies on others' actions to influence behavior, not present in this direct request.
Question 49 of 750
220-1202 Social Engineering Attacks Practice Question
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of social engineering 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.
A new employee is setting up their workstation and receives a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IT department. The caller says there is a critical security update and needs the employee's login credentials to install it remotely. What social engineering principle is the attacker primarily exploiting?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Authority
The attacker is impersonating IT staff, which leverages the principle of authority. By claiming to be from the IT department, the attacker exploits the employee's tendency to comply with perceived organizational authority, especially regarding security updates. This is a classic social engineering tactic where the attacker uses a trusted role to bypass security protocols.
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.
- ✗
Urgency
Why it's wrong here
While there is an element of urgency, the primary tactic is the false sense of authority from the 'IT department' claim.
- ✗
Scarcity
Why it's wrong here
Scarcity involves limited-time offers or resources, not relevant to a security update request.
- ✓
Authority
Why this is correct
Authority is the correct answer, as the attacker uses the perceived power of IT to gain compliance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Social proof
Why it's wrong here
Social proof relies on others' actions to influence behavior, not present in this direct request.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the distinction between urgency and authority: candidates confuse the caller's demand for immediate action (urgency) with the underlying exploitation of the caller's claimed position (authority), but the question explicitly asks for the primary principle being exploited.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Authority exploits the human tendency to obey figures of perceived power, often reinforced by organizational hierarchies. In IT, this is why help desk impersonation attacks are common: employees are conditioned to trust internal IT communications. Real-world attacks often combine authority with spoofed caller ID or internal phone numbers to increase credibility, bypassing technical controls like multi-factor authentication.
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 220-1202 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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1202 question test?
Social Engineering Attacks — This question tests Social Engineering Attacks — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Authority — The attacker is impersonating IT staff, which leverages the principle of authority. By claiming to be from the IT department, the attacker exploits the employee's tendency to comply with perceived organizational authority, especially regarding security updates. This is a classic social engineering tactic where the attacker uses a trusted role to bypass security protocols.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This 220-1202 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 220-1202 exam.
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