Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

What type of threat did Elon represent by sharing sensitive information with competitors?

1. External threat

2. Internal threat

3. Natural threat

4. Unintentional threat

The correct answer is: Internal threat

The situation involving Elon sharing sensitive information with competitors exemplifies an internal threat. Internal threats originate from within an organization and typically involve individuals who have authorized access to information or resources. By sharing this sensitive data, Elon is leveraging his insider status, which makes this action particularly concerning from a security perspective. An internal threat can manifest in various ways, such as malicious insiders, carelessness, or—like in this case—an inadvertent release of information that could be exploited by competitors. Because of the familiarity and access these insiders possess, they may unintentionally cause harm that has the potential to undermine an organization's competitive edge or security posture. In contrast, external threats come from outside the organization, such as hackers or cybercriminals. Natural threats refer to disasters like earthquakes or floods that can disrupt services. Unintentional threats usually describe situations where no malicious intent is involved, but they differ from internal threats that can stem from careless or poor judgment among individuals within the organization. In this case, since the threat arises directly from a person with internal access, categorizing it as an internal threat is the most accurate.