Lesson 16: Social Engineering and Physical Security
Week of Tue, Dec 29 · lesson closes Mon, Jan 4
Take Meerk's quiz for Lesson 16
This lesson's items
Exact due times are in Canvas.
Watch — Professor Messer
Watch — Professor Messer: Social Engineering and Physical Security (220-1202)
Free, independent educational resource. Not affiliated with or endorsed by CompTIA. Watch, then read the notes below.
Know these cold
- Social engineering: phishing (email), vishing (phone/voice), smishing (SMS), spear phishing (targeted), pretexting (fabricated scenario), tailgating (physical access by following).
- Physical security controls: cable locks, biometric locks, badge readers, mantrap entry, video surveillance, server room access logs.
- Data destruction: HDD shredding/degaussing (classified), SSD secure erase (overwrite all cells), Certificate of Destruction.
Meerk's quiz — open the Lesson 16 gate
10 questions, no time limit. 85% on your first attempt in a 24-hour window opens the gate. Retakes inside the window are practice — they help you learn, they don't count. Work alone; the point is to know it, not to have seen it.
Dinner Table Question
Ask at home: How would you safely destroy a hard drive with a client's financial records before throwing it away?
En español: ¿Cómo destruirías de forma segura un disco duro con los registros financieros de un cliente antes de tirarlo?