Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Cybersecurity Practice Test

What refers to sending a large volume of unsolicited emails?

1. Email Harvesting

2. Phishing

3. Spam

4. Scareware

The correct answer is: Spam

The term that refers to sending a large volume of unsolicited emails is spam. Spam emails are typically mass-marketed messages that promote products, services, or scams without the recipients' consent. This practice is widespread and often clutters inboxes, making it difficult for users to find legitimate communications. Spam can include advertisements, promotional messages, or even malicious content aiming to deceive recipients into clicking on harmful links. The intent behind spam is not only to promote but also to exploit users' inboxes for potential scams. Other terms listed do not correctly define the act of sending unsolicited emails. Email harvesting refers to the process of collecting email addresses from various sources, which is often done for the purpose of sending spam, but it is not the act itself. Phishing is a technique used to deceive individuals into revealing personal information by impersonating trustworthy entities, often through email, but it has a different focus than simply sending bulk unsolicited messages. Scareware refers to software that falsely warns users of nonexistent problems with their computer to trick them into purchasing unwanted software, which is not related to sending unsolicited emails. Thus, spam distinctly captures the essence of mass unsolicited emailing.