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ISC2 CC Practice Question: Which TWO of the following are commonly used…
Which TWO of the following are commonly used techniques to detect phishing emails? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the distinction between email authentication protocols (DKIM/DMARC) and detection techniques, causing candidates to mistakenly select Option E as a detection method when it is actually a preventive authentication standard.
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
✓
Sandboxing email attachments in a secure environment.
Sandboxing email attachments in a secure environment (Option C) is a common technique to detect phishing emails because it allows suspicious attachments to be executed and analyzed in an isolated virtual machine. This process observes the attachment's behavior for malicious activities, such as attempting to connect to a command-and-control server or dropping malware, without risking the actual endpoint. It is a core technology used in advanced email security gateways and threat intelligence platforms.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Scanning for specific file extensions.
Why it's wrong here
Attackers can use various extensions; extension scanning is insufficient.
- ✗
Disabling automatic image loading.
Why it's wrong here
This is a security setting to avoid tracking, not a detection technique.
- ✓
Sandboxing email attachments in a secure environment.
Why this is correct
Sandboxing can detect malicious attachments by executing them safely.
- ✓
Analyzing sender reputation and email headers.
Why this is correct
Sender reputation and header analysis can identify suspicious sources.
- ✗
Implementing DKIM and DMARC records.
Why it's wrong here
These are authentication methods to prevent spoofing, not detection of phishing content.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to Security Principles
Key term
Threat
A threat is any potential danger that could harm a computer system, network, or data, whether from a malicious hacker, a natural disaster, or an accidental mistake.
Key term
Malware
Malware is any software intentionally designed to cause damage, disrupt operations, steal data, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CC practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 CC exam.