Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

Which of the following is a technique that uses VoIP to trick individuals into revealing personal information?

1. Phishing

2. Vishing

3. Spimming

4. Spear phishing

The correct answer is: Vishing

The technique that uses VoIP to trick individuals into revealing personal information is known as vishing. This method blends "voice" and "phishing" and typically involves a malicious actor using phone calls or voice messages to impersonate a trustworthy entity, such as a bank or government agency. The goal is to manipulate the target into divulging sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card numbers. Vishing specifically exploits voice communications to create a sense of urgency or fear, prompting individuals to act quickly without verifying the source. It’s particularly effective because it leverages the human tendency to trust voice communications more than other forms of contact, such as emails. Other techniques mentioned, such as phishing, refer to fraudulent attempts to obtain sensitive information through deceptive emails or websites. Spimming relates to the use of instant messaging to conduct similar scams, and spear phishing targets specific individuals with tailored attacks, mostly via email, rather than voice communications. Thus, vishing is the distinct approach that utilizes VoIP technology in this context.