- A
Scarcity
Why wrong: Scarcity involves limited availability, not the temptation of a found item.
- B
Baiting
Baiting is the correct term, as the attacker left a malicious device (the bait) to exploit the user's curiosity.
- C
Pretexting
Why wrong: Pretexting involves a fabricated scenario, not a physical object left in a public place.
- D
Tailgating
Why wrong: Tailgating is about physical entry, not using a found USB drive.
Question 255 of 750
Baiting: Exploiting Curiosity with Malicious Devices
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.
During a security audit, a technician finds that a user's workstation was infected with malware after the user inserted a USB drive found in the parking lot. The drive was labeled 'Employee Salary Info Q4'. What social engineering principle did the attacker exploit?
Quick Answer
The answer is baiting. This is correct because baiting exploits human curiosity and greed by offering something enticing—in this case, a USB drive labeled 'Employee Salary Info Q4'—to trick a user into inserting a malicious device. The attacker relies on the victim’s psychological impulse to access sensitive or valuable information, bypassing technical security controls entirely. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, baiting is a common social engineering scenario that tests your ability to distinguish it from other attacks like phishing or tailgating; a frequent trap is confusing it with phishing, but remember that baiting always involves a physical or digital lure (like a USB or infected download) rather than a deceptive message. A useful memory tip: think of “bait” as a literal hook—if the attacker leaves something tempting for you to pick up, it’s baiting.
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
✓
Baiting
Baiting is the correct answer because the attacker exploited the victim's curiosity by leaving a malware-infected USB drive in a visible location, labeled with an enticing message ('Employee Salary Info Q4'). When the user inserted the drive, the malware executed automatically (e.g., via Autorun.inf in Windows), compromising the workstation. This is a classic baiting attack, which relies on offering something desirable to trick the victim into performing a risky action.
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.
- ✗
Scarcity
Why it's wrong here
Scarcity involves limited availability, not the temptation of a found item.
- ✓
Baiting
Why this is correct
Baiting is the correct term, as the attacker left a malicious device (the bait) to exploit the user's curiosity.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Pretexting
Why it's wrong here
Pretexting involves a fabricated scenario, not a physical object left in a public place.
- ✗
Tailgating
Why it's wrong here
Tailgating is about physical entry, not using a found USB drive.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse baiting with pretexting because both involve deception, but baiting specifically uses a physical lure (like a USB drive) to trigger an action, whereas pretexting relies on a fabricated story or identity to gain information.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Pretexting involves a fabricated scenario, not a physical object left in a public place.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Baiting attacks often leverage Autorun or AutoPlay features in older Windows versions (pre-Windows 10) to execute malware automatically when a USB drive is inserted. Modern systems may require user interaction (e.g., double-clicking a file), but attackers can still use social engineering to trick users into opening a disguised executable (e.g., 'Salary_Info.pdf.exe'). In real-world penetration tests, USB drop attacks are a common method to bypass network defenses, as the malware can establish a reverse shell or exfiltrate data without triggering network-based IDS/IPS.
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
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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: Baiting — Baiting is the correct answer because the attacker exploited the victim's curiosity by leaving a malware-infected USB drive in a visible location, labeled with an enticing message ('Employee Salary Info Q4'). When the user inserted the drive, the malware executed automatically (e.g., via Autorun.inf in Windows), compromising the workstation. This is a classic baiting attack, which relies on offering something desirable to trick the victim into performing a risky action.
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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