You are using a public Wi-Fi network inside a coffee shop. Before surfing the web, you use your VPN to prevent intruders from sniffing your traffic. If you did not have a VPN, how would you identify…

Question

Options

• AYou should check your ARP table and see if there is one IP address with two different MAC
• BYou should scan the network using Nmap to check the MAC addresses of all the hosts and look
• CYou should use netstat to check for any suspicious connections with another IP address within
• DYou cannot identify such an attack and must use a VPN to protect your traffic, r

• A
  90% (28)
• B
  6% (2)
• D
  3% (1)

Explanation

ARP Spoofing Detection Explained

Checking your ARP table (using arp -a on Windows/Linux) is the most direct way to detect ARP spoofing, because the attack works by sending fraudulent ARP replies that map an attacker's MAC address to a legitimate IP (typically the gateway). If you see one IP address associated with two different MAC addresses, or the gateway's IP pointing to an unexpected MAC, this is a telltale sign of ARP spoofing in progress.

Why the distractors are wrong:

• B (Nmap scan): While Nmap can reveal MAC addresses, it requires active scanning of the entire network and is an indirect, inefficient method compared to simply inspecting your own ARP cache - it also doesn't directly expose the spoofing on your machine.
• C (netstat): Netstat shows active TCP/UDP connections and open ports, but it operates at Layer 4 and cannot reveal Layer 2 ARP manipulation or MAC address conflicts.
• D (VPN only): This is incorrect because ARP table inspection is a real, practical detection method available without a VPN; while a VPN protects your traffic, it doesn't mean detection is impossible.

Memory Tip: Think "One IP, Two MACs = Attack Tracks" - ARP spoofing always leaves a duplicate MAC fingerprint in your ARP table, making the cache your first and best clue.

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