312-50V13 · Question #164
How does a denial-of-service attack work?
The correct answer is A. A hacker prevents a legitimate user (or group of users) from accessing a service. A denial-of-service (DoS) attack aims to disrupt the normal functioning of a service or system, preventing legitimate users from accessing it.
Question
Options
- AA hacker prevents a legitimate user (or group of users) from accessing a service
- BA hacker uses every character, word, or letter he or she can think of to defeat authentication
- CA hacker tries to decipher a password by using a system, which subsequently crashes the
- DA hacker attempts to imitate a legitimate user by confusing a computer or even another person
How the community answered
(32 responses)- A88% (28)
- B3% (1)
- C6% (2)
- D3% (1)
Why each option
A denial-of-service (DoS) attack aims to disrupt the normal functioning of a service or system, preventing legitimate users from accessing it.
The primary objective of a denial-of-service attack is to render a computer, network, or service unavailable to its intended, legitimate users. This is typically achieved by overwhelming the target with traffic, exhausting system resources, or exploiting specific vulnerabilities to cause a crash or malfunction.
This describes a brute-force attack or a dictionary attack, which are methods for guessing credentials, not for making a service unavailable to legitimate users.
While a flawed brute-force attempt might cause a system to crash, the core mechanism and intent of a denial-of-service attack are about making a service unavailable, not primarily deciphering a password.
This describes impersonation, spoofing, or social engineering, where an attacker pretends to be a legitimate entity, which is distinct from a denial-of-service attack aimed at service disruption.
Concept tested: Denial-of-service attack definition
Source: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/news/cisa-releases-tip-understanding-and-defending-against-denial-service-attacks
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