Cisco Cyber Security Practice Exam

What type of attack is characterized by overwhelming a target to render systems unavailable?

1. Phishing attack

2. DDoS attack

3. Man-in-the-middle attack

4. Ransomware attack

The correct answer is: DDoS attack

The type of attack characterized by overwhelming a target to render systems unavailable is indeed a Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack. In a DDoS attack, multiple systems, often compromised and used as part of a botnet, flood a target system with excessive traffic. This massive influx of requests exceeds the target's capacity to handle the incoming requests, leading to a denial of service for legitimate users. The main goal of a DDoS attack is not to gain access to the system or steal information, but rather to disrupt the normal functioning of the network or service, making it inaccessible. In contrast, phishing attacks primarily involve tricking users into revealing sensitive information, such as usernames and passwords, rather than targeting the availability of a service. Man-in-the-middle attacks focus on intercepting and altering communications between two parties without detection, while ransomware attacks aim to encrypt files and demand a ransom for their release. All these attacks have different methods and objectives when compared to the overwhelming tactics of a DDoS attack.