Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

What type of attack did Alice launch against the manufacturing plant?

1. Ransomware

2. Spear Phishing

3. Malware attack

4. SQL Injection

The correct answer is: Spear Phishing

Spear phishing is a targeted attempt to steal sensitive information such as account credentials or financial information from a specific individual, often for malicious reasons, using social engineering techniques. In this context, if Alice launched a spear phishing attack against the manufacturing plant, it indicates that she crafted a personalized communication designed to deceive a particular employee or group of employees within the organization. This method usually involves research and knowledge about the target, allowing the attacker to create a convincing scenario that prompts the recipient to take an action, such as clicking a link or providing personal information. Spear phishing exploits the trust and credibility of the individual being impersonated, making it an effective and dangerous form of attack. The other types of attacks mentioned carry different characteristics and methods. Ransomware focuses on encrypting data to extort money from the victim, while a general malware attack can refer to a broader category of malicious software that affects systems without a specific target. SQL Injection is a code injection technique that exploits vulnerabilities in database-driven applications, typically aiming to manipulate or access database data directly, rather than targeting individuals through deceitful communications. Thus, the identification of the attack type as spear phishing correctly reflects the nature of a focused and personalized attack on individuals within the manufacturing plant.