Question

Which of the following is an attack used to shut down a machine or network, making it inaccessible to its intended users?

• A. Malicious code
• B. Denial of service attack
• C. Spoofing
• D. Cyber vandalism

Hint:

A {DoS attack} overwhelms a system with excessive traffic so that legitimate users cannot access the service.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding cyber attacks.
Cyber attacks are malicious activities performed to damage, disrupt, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems and networks. These attacks can affect websites, servers, or entire networks.
Step 2: Meaning of Denial of Service (DoS).
A Denial of Service (DoS) attack is a cyber attack in which an attacker attempts to make a machine, website, or network unavailable to its legitimate users. This is usually done by flooding the system with a huge number of requests so that it cannot respond to normal users.
As a result, the system becomes slow or completely inaccessible.
Step 3: Evaluation of options.
(A) Malicious code: Incorrect. It refers to harmful software such as viruses or worms but does not specifically shut down networks.
(B) Denial of service attack: Correct. It intentionally blocks access to a system or network.
(C) Spoofing: Incorrect. Spoofing involves impersonating another user or device.
(D) Cyber vandalism: Incorrect. It generally refers to defacing websites or damaging digital property.
Step 4: Conclusion.
Therefore, the attack used to shut down a machine or network and make it inaccessible to legitimate users is a Denial of Service attack.
Final Answer: Denial of service attack.