312-50V13 Question #164: Real Exam Question with Answer & Explanation

Question

How does a denial-of-service attack work?

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

Explanation

A denial-of-service (DoS) attack aims to disrupt the normal functioning of a service or system, preventing legitimate users from accessing it.

Common mistakes.

• B. 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.
• C. 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.
• D. 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

Reference. https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/news/cisa-releases-tip-understanding-and-defending-against-denial-service-attacks

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