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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.

Submitted by hans_de· Mar 6, 2026Denial-of-Service

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

How the community answered

(32 responses)
  • A
    88% (28)
  • B
    3% (1)
  • C
    6% (2)
  • D
    3% (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.

AA hacker prevents a legitimate user (or group of users) from accessing a serviceCorrect

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.

BA hacker uses every character, word, or letter he or she can think of to defeat authentication

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.

CA hacker tries to decipher a password by using a system, which subsequently crashes the

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.

DA hacker attempts to imitate a legitimate user by confusing a computer or even another person

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

Topics

#Denial of Service#Network attack#Service disruption

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