Cisco Cyber Security Practice Exam

What does impersonation in a cybersecurity context typically involve?

1. A user creating a fake website to mimic a legitimate service

2. Someone pretending to be another individual to gain sensitive information

3. An unauthorized user accessing a secure network

4. A colleague accessing files without permission

The correct answer is: Someone pretending to be another individual to gain sensitive information

Impersonation in a cybersecurity context usually refers to someone pretending to be another individual to gain sensitive information. This technique is frequently employed in social engineering attacks, where attackers might pose as trusted entities through various means such as emails, phone calls, or online chats. By doing so, they aim to trick the victim into disclosing personal information, login credentials, or financial data. This type of impersonation is particularly dangerous because it exploits the trust that individuals naturally place in others, especially those who appear to have legitimate authority. As a result, successful impersonation attacks can lead to significant data breaches, identity theft, and other forms of cybercrime. While options discussing creating fake websites, unauthorized access to secure networks, or accessing files without permission address important cybersecurity threats, they do not specifically capture the essence of impersonation as directly targeting the deception of a person's identity to extract confidential information.