Question

You receive an e-mail marked important from your boss asking for data that they need immediately for a meeting starting now. The e-mail was sent from a personal e-mail address that you do not recognize, but it addresses you by name. What concern does this e-mail pose?

-This poses no concern. The e-mail addresses you by name, so it is probably legitimate.
-This may be a spear phishing attempt. Contact your boss using contact information that you know to be legitimate.
-The data must be encrypted before you can send it to a non-government e-mail address.
-This is an important request that requires your immediate attention. You may not be able to send the data in time.

Answer 1

The correct action is to view the e-mail with suspicion and verify its authenticity due to potential spear phishing attempts. Professional standards require business correspondence through company channels, and any unexpected request via a personal e-mail address should be verified directly with the alleged sender before any data is shared.

Step-by-step explanation:

Receiving an e-mail from a personal e-mail address that you do not recognize, even if it addresses you by name, should prompt concern for several reasons. Firstly, it is against standard professional email standards to conduct business or share sensitive data through personal email accounts. Secondly, the urgent nature of the request and unfamiliar email address are classic signs of a possible spear phishing attempt, where specific individuals are targeted to try and trick them into providing confidential information or access to secure systems.

When faced with this situation, the most appropriate action would be to verify the authenticity of the request. You should immediately contact your boss through known, legitimate channels, such as their work email or telephone number, to confirm whether the request is legitimate. Take care not to use the reply function in the email, as this may not reach your boss if the original email was indeed a phishing attempt. Encrypting data is also important, but first establishing the email's legitimacy is paramount. Ignoring the potential threat could lead to serious data breaches or other security incidents.

Answer 2

The email could potentially be a spear phishing attempt, and it is important to confirm the sender's identity before responding. Making use of professional email standards and understanding the use of email addresses and subject lines is crucial in a professional setting. The correct answer is option b.

Step-by-step explanation:

The e-mail received from a personal e-mail address that you do not recognize, despite addressing you by name, can be a cause for concern. It may be a spear phishing attempt. Spear phishing is a targeted form of phishing where attackers use personalized information to appear trustworthy, but their intention is to steal sensitive information or infect your system with malware. The fact that this e-mail is asking for sensitive data and is marked important adds to the urgency, which is a common tactic used by cybercriminals. In such cases, the best course of action is to verify the identity of the sender before providing any information.

It is also worth noting the importance of using email addresses and subject lines effectively. Your email address should make a good first impression and should ideally include your name to appear professional. When composing an email, especially in a professional context, make sure to consider professional email standards and follow your company's guidelines for email communication to maintain credibility and privacy.