Final answer:
Employees encountering an unknown technician inquiring about network details are likely witnessing a social engineering attack, where the attacker uses human interaction to bypass security measures.
Step-by-step explanation:
When employees in the financial department report an unknown technician asking questions about the network, they may be observing a social engineering attack. Social engineering relies on human interaction to gain unauthorized access to confidential information. Rather than using technical hacking methods, social engineering involves manipulating individuals into breaking normal security procedures.
A DDoS attack (Distributed Denial of Service) overwhelms a network with a flood of internet traffic, whereas malware infection involves malicious software being installed on a system without the user's knowledge. Physical intrusion refers to physically entering a location to gain unauthorized access. In contrast to the other options, social engineering aligns with the scenario described where the technique is based around human interaction and manipulation. Employees in the financial department observing an unknown technician asking questions about the network may be witnessing a potential social engineering attack. Social engineering involves manipulating individuals to disclose sensitive information or perform actions that could compromise security. In this scenario, the unidentified technician may be attempting to gather information through deceptive communication, exploiting trust to gain unauthorized access or insights into the network. It's crucial for employees to be vigilant, verify identities, and report suspicious activities to prevent potential security breaches resulting from social engineering tactics. Education on recognizing and mitigating social engineering risks is essential for organizational cybersecurity.