CompTIA Security+ (SY0-501) — Question 815

Joe, a new employee, discovered a thumb drive with the company's logo on it while walking in the parking lot. Joe was curious as to the contents of the drive and placed it into his work computer. Shortly after accessing the contents, he noticed the machine was running slower, started to reboot, and displayed new icons on the screen. Which of the following types of attacks occurred?

Answer options

• A. Social engineering
• B. Brute force attack
• C. MITM
• D. DoS

Correct answer: A

Explanation

The correct answer is A, Social engineering, as Joe was manipulated into using a potentially malicious device that appeared legitimate. The other options, such as Brute force attack, MITM, and DoS, do not accurately describe the scenario where Joe's curiosity led to unauthorized access and subsequent issues with his machine.