Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

Employees who utilize technical knowledge to exploit company data are classified as which type of insider?

1. Malicious insiders

2. Professional insiders

3. Compromised insiders

4. Negligent insiders

The correct answer is: Professional insiders

The classification of employees who use their technical knowledge to exploit company data is correctly identified as malicious insiders. Malicious insiders are individuals who consciously and intentionally engage in harmful activities within an organization, leveraging their access and knowledge to seek personal gain or cause damage. Professional insiders refers to those employees who hold roles that require elevated access to sensitive data but operate within ethical and legal boundaries. They do not exploit their knowledge for harmful purposes. Compromised insiders are individuals who have had their credentials stolen or who are manipulated into unwittingly aiding malicious activities, while negligent insiders are those who may unintentionally cause harm due to carelessness or lack of awareness, without any intent to exploit or manipulate data for personal benefit. In this context, the action taken by employees exploiting company data is driven by intentional wrongdoing which firmly categorizes them as malicious insiders. This definition emphasizes the deliberate and harmful nature of their actions in the context of insider threats.