- A
Organized crime
Why wrong: Organized crime is financially motivated.
- B
Nation-state APT
Why wrong: Nation-state APTs are typically state-sponsored for espionage or sabotage.
- C
Hacktivist
Hacktivists are ideologically motivated.
- D
Script kiddie
Why wrong: Script kiddies use existing tools, usually for notoriety.
Question 511 of 1,000
CRISC IT Risk Identification Practice Question
This CRISC practice question tests your understanding of it risk identification. 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 threat actor is most likely motivated by political ideology and may target government systems?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
✓
Hacktivist
Hacktivists are threat actors whose primary motivation is political ideology, social activism, or protest. They often target government systems to disrupt operations, deface websites, or leak sensitive information in order to advance their political agenda, making option C correct.
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.
- ✗
Organized crime
Why it's wrong here
Organized crime is financially motivated.
- ✗
Nation-state APT
Why it's wrong here
Nation-state APTs are typically state-sponsored for espionage or sabotage.
- ✓
Hacktivist
Why this is correct
Hacktivists are ideologically motivated.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Script kiddie
Why it's wrong here
Script kiddies use existing tools, usually for notoriety.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing nation-state APTs with hacktivists because both may target government systems, but the key differentiator is motivation: nation-state APTs act for geopolitical or espionage reasons, while hacktivists are driven by political ideology and often seek public visibility.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Hacktivists commonly employ techniques such as DDoS attacks (e.g., using LOIC or HOIC), website defacement via SQL injection or cross-site scripting, and doxing to expose internal communications. A real-world example is the Anonymous collective targeting government websites with Operation Payback, using low-orbit ion cannons to flood servers with traffic, exploiting the lack of proper rate limiting or DDoS mitigation controls.
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 CRISC 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 CRISC question test?
IT Risk Identification — This question tests IT Risk Identification — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Hacktivist — Hacktivists are threat actors whose primary motivation is political ideology, social activism, or protest. They often target government systems to disrupt operations, deface websites, or leak sensitive information in order to advance their political agenda, making option C correct.
What should I do if I get this CRISC question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This CRISC practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISACA 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 CRISC exam.
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