nerdexam
(ISC)2

SSCP · Question #1078

A salami attack refers to what type of activity?

The correct answer is C. Committing computer crimes in such small doses that they almost go unnoticed. A salami attack is a type of computer crime where very small amounts of assets, often money, are stolen from a large number of transactions, making each individual theft almost imperceptible.

Submitted by yasin.bd· Apr 18, 2026Security Concepts and Practices

Question

A salami attack refers to what type of activity?

Options

  • AEmbedding or hiding data inside of a legitimate communication - a picture, etc.
  • BHijacking a session and stealing passwords
  • CCommitting computer crimes in such small doses that they almost go unnoticed
  • DSetting a program to attack a website at11:59 am on New Year's Eve

How the community answered

(44 responses)
  • A
    2% (1)
  • B
    2% (1)
  • C
    89% (39)
  • D
    7% (3)

Why each option

A salami attack is a type of computer crime where very small amounts of assets, often money, are stolen from a large number of transactions, making each individual theft almost imperceptible.

AEmbedding or hiding data inside of a legitimate communication - a picture, etc.

Embedding or hiding data within legitimate files or communications is known as steganography, which is distinct from a salami attack.

BHijacking a session and stealing passwords

Hijacking a session and stealing passwords describes a session hijacking or credential theft attack, which is not a salami attack.

CCommitting computer crimes in such small doses that they almost go unnoticedCorrect

A salami attack involves illicitly siphoning off tiny amounts of value, typically financial, from numerous sources, which individually are too small to notice, but accumulate into a significant sum for the attacker. This method exploits the fact that minor discrepancies often go unchecked, especially in large-volume transactions.

DSetting a program to attack a website at11:59 am on New Year's Eve

Setting a program to execute a malicious action at a specific future time or event is characteristic of a logic bomb, not a salami attack.

Concept tested: Salami attack definition

Topics

#Salami attack#Computer fraud#Attack types#Financial crime

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