A message warning of a non-existent computer virus threat that spreads through social engineering is known as what?

• A. Whaling attack
• B. Elicitation
• C. Spam Email
• D. Hoax Letters

Answer: (D)

A warning about a non-existent virus that spreads through social engineering is a hoax. These messages exploit fear and the urge to warn others, prompting recipients to forward them or take actions they shouldn’t. The goal is to manipulate people using a fabricated threat, not to steal credentials or break into systems, which is why this fits the pattern of a hoax delivered through social engineering. By contrast, a whaling attack targets specific individuals for credential theft, elicitation is about coaxing information, and spam emails are unsolicited bulk messages; the distinctive element here is the fake threat intended to spread misinformation.