Cisco Cyber Security Practice Exam

All employees receive an email stating their passwords will expire immediately. What best describes this email?

1. Phishing attempt

2. Hoax

3. Malware alert

4. Spam

The correct answer is: Hoax

The email in question is best described as a hoax because it aims to deceive recipients into believing that they must take urgent action regarding their passwords without legitimate cause. Hoaxes typically involve false information designed to trick users, often creating panic or confusion. In the context of cybersecurity, this type of email can lead to employees unnecessarily changing their passwords or providing sensitive information to a malicious party. In distinguishing this from other types, phishing attempts specifically seek to gather sensitive information such as login credentials through deception. A well-constructed phishing email often contains elements that encourage the recipient to click a link leading to a fraudulent website. In this scenario, while the email may aim to elicit a concerned response, it may lack the specificity seen in targeted phishing attempts. Malware alerts refer to warnings or notifications about detected malicious software on a device, which does not fit the context of an email about password expiration. Similarly, spam typically involves unsolicited communications that are primarily intended for advertising and do not center around potentially deceptive or false alerts regarding security measures. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for identifying the nature of such communications in the workplace.