CompTIA Security+ (SY0-501) — Question 96

Which of the following are considered among the BEST indicators that a received message is a hoax? (Choose two.)

Answer options

• A. Minimal use of uppercase letters in the message
• B. Warnings of monetary loss to the receiver
• C. No valid digital signature from a known security organization
• D. Claims of possible damage to computer hardware
• E. Embedded URLs

Correct answer: C, E

Explanation

The absence of a valid digital signature from a known security organization (C) indicates that the source may not be trustworthy, making it a strong indicator of a hoax. Additionally, the presence of embedded URLs (E) can often lead to phishing sites or malicious content, which is also a red flag. The other options, while they may raise concerns, do not provide as definitive evidence of a hoax.