- A
Phishing
Why wrong: Phishing is a broad term; this scenario specifically targets a senior executive (the CEO), making it whaling.
- B
Whaling
Whaling is a targeted phishing attack against high-profile individuals like the CEO, often involving impersonation.
- C
Spear phishing
Why wrong: Spear phishing is targeted at a specific individual, but whaling is the subset that targets executives specifically.
- D
Vishing
Why wrong: Vishing uses voice calls, not email.
Question 502 of 750
Recognizing Whaling: Social Engineering Targeting Executives
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of logical security concepts. 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 employee receives an email that appears to be from the CEO, asking them to urgently wire funds to a new vendor. The email address looks similar to the CEO's but has a slight typo. What type of social engineering attack is this?
Quick Answer
The correct answer is whaling. This is a specific form of phishing that targets high-level executives—either by impersonating them or by directly attacking them—to trick employees into authorizing sensitive actions like wire transfers or revealing confidential data. The spoofed email address with a slight typo and the urgent request for funds are classic indicators of a whaling attack, which relies on authority and pressure rather than broad, generic lures. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish whaling from standard phishing or spear phishing; the key trap is that many students confuse it with general phishing, but whaling always involves C-suite or senior staff as either the target or the impersonated sender. A helpful memory tip: think of a whale as the biggest fish in the sea—whaling targets the biggest roles in an organization, like the CEO or CFO.
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
✓
Whaling
B is correct because whaling is a targeted phishing attack aimed at high-profile individuals like the CEO or CFO, often using a fake but similar email address to request urgent financial transfers. The slight typo in the email address (e.g., ceo@company.com vs. ceo@cornpany.com) is a classic whaling tactic to bypass casual inspection, exploiting the authority of the executive to pressure the victim into bypassing normal verification procedures.
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.
- ✗
Phishing
Why it's wrong here
Phishing is a broad term; this scenario specifically targets a senior executive (the CEO), making it whaling.
- ✓
Whaling
Why this is correct
Whaling is a targeted phishing attack against high-profile individuals like the CEO, often involving impersonation.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Spear phishing
Why it's wrong here
Spear phishing is targeted at a specific individual, but whaling is the subset that targets executives specifically.
- ✗
Vishing
Why it's wrong here
Vishing uses voice calls, not email.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA A+ often tests the distinction between spear phishing and whaling by making candidates recognize that whaling is a specific type of spear phishing targeting executives, not just any targeted email attack.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Phishing is a broad term; this scenario specifically targets a senior executive (the CEO), making it whaling.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Whaling often leverages email spoofing techniques, such as manipulating the SMTP 'From' header or using a lookalike domain registered via typo-squatting (e.g., company.co instead of company.com), to bypass basic email filters. In real-world scenarios, attackers may also research the CEO's communication patterns via OSINT to craft convincing language, and the urgency is designed to exploit the victim's fear of reprisal, bypassing multi-factor authentication or approval workflows. This attack vector is particularly dangerous because it targets the 'human firewall' at the highest organizational level.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1202 question test?
Logical Security Concepts — This question tests Logical Security Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Whaling — B is correct because whaling is a targeted phishing attack aimed at high-profile individuals like the CEO or CFO, often using a fake but similar email address to request urgent financial transfers. The slight typo in the email address (e.g., ceo@company.com vs. ceo@cornpany.com) is a classic whaling tactic to bypass casual inspection, exploiting the authority of the executive to pressure the victim into bypassing normal verification procedures.
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
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