Exam SY0-601 topic 1 question 37 discussion

I read the comments below. Many of you are associating social media messages with fake news which is leading you to the answer: Hoax. However, social media messages are usually just that, messages. Think of a DM via Instagram. That is a direct message through a social media application. Most social medias have IM features. I think there is a false notion of fake news with this question. For this reason, I believe it is SPIM.

Hoaxes

option A Hoaxes are false or misleading messages, typically spread through social media, emails, or other communication channels. These messages may contain misinformation, rumors, or fabricated stories intended to deceive or manipulate recipients. By raising awareness about the importance of verifying the authenticity and credibility of messages before forwarding them, individuals can avoid inadvertently spreading hoaxes and contributing to the dissemination of false information.

I don't know. Initially I thought Hoax while I was readying part of the question and it does make sense but it does say "social media messages". I'm going with SPIM. Nothing ever makes full sense with CompTIA.

If we agree on the following definition: "SPIM are spam messages symptomatic of widely-used free instant messaging apps like Messenger, Whatsapp, Viber, Telegram, Skype and WeChat. These spam messages are usually commercial-type spam but can contain malware and spyware." Then choosing SPIM over Hoax makes more sense.

Spammers send spam/spim. If you fwd unverified mail, described in the question, that's a hoax.

I believe the reason a company would not want their employees to forward unverified messages would be so that they do not give credence to possible fake news and stake the reputation of the organization carelessly. The truth is once the unverified source is proven wrong, the news will read that an employee of a reputable organization, posted....... Bad press/ publicity is never good for business no matter how innocent. I would go with A. (Hoaxes)

Security awareness training that emphasizes not forwarding social media messages from unverified sources would help to prevent hoaxes. A hoax is a deceptive message or information that is spread with the intention to mislead or deceive recipients. By educating employees not to forward social media messages from unverified sources, the company can reduce the spread of false or misleading information, thereby minimizing the impact of hoaxes.

Fake News

The training regarding not forwarding social media messages from unverified sources would help to prevent A. Hoaxes. Hoaxes are deceptive messages or information that are spread widely, often through social media platforms or email, with the intention to mislead or deceive recipients. These hoaxes may contain false claims, fabricated stories, or misleading information, and they can be harmful or cause panic if shared without verification. By training employees not to forward social media messages from unverified sources, individuals become more cautious and discerning about the information they share. They are encouraged to verify the authenticity and accuracy of the content before spreading it further. This helps to prevent the spread of hoaxes and reduces the potential negative impacts associated with misinformation.

"We’ve all probably received the e-mails stating that little Timmy is dying of a serious disease and wants his e-mail forwarded to 10,000 people, or that Bill Gates is giving away his fortune and you can receive a part of it if you forward the e-mail to 10 of your friends. You’ve probably also seen e-mails asking you to provide bank account information so that a deposed prince or forgotten relative can deposit millions of dollars into your bank account to save their fortune. Hoaxes aren’t confined to e-mail; hoaxers can use fake Web sites, social media sites, and even telephone calls to perpetrate a hoax. Their goal may be to get donations, spread a fake story, or even simply see how many people will fall for it. As with most other social engineering attacks, an organization’s best defense against hoaxes is a good security education and training program for users." -Mike Meyers, Security+ Cert Guide Third Edition SY0-601

I read most of the comments here but I think what can help pick between Hoaxes and SPIM, is that a end user training would not prevent SPIM per se, it would prevent user's from clicking on links in SPIM but not receiving them. An end user training would definitely help users be aware of hoaxes and not spread them.

I believe SPIM is the correct answer here.

These types of training sessions would help to prevent identity fraud, as they help people to recognize the signs of malicious attacks or scams that could be used to steal their identities or other personal info.

chatgpt says its a. hoaxes

A. Hoax. Is designed to convince targets to perform an action that would reduce or harm their IT security. often encourages victims to spread the word. Since they are concerned with forwarding unverified sources, suggests it is a hoax they are concerned with.

this question really have vague answers options.... i was contemplating between hoaxes and SPIM however imo in term of loss, hoaxes don't cost much for a company(example, resulting in a sense of urgency to forward threatening/frightening massages that affect company) however SPIM can be quite fatal for a company error (for example, clicking a link resulting in malware/spyware)