What describes a DDoS attack?

• A. A phishing email
• B. Ransomware
• C. Encryption breach
• D. An attack on a computer or network in which multiple computers send data and requests to the device in an attempt to overwhelm it so that it cannot perform normal operations.

Answer: (D)

A DDoS attack is about overwhelming a target with traffic from many different machines so it can’t handle legitimate requests. The key idea is the distributed nature—loads of devices send data and requests to the target all at once to exhaust its bandwidth or processing power, causing disruption or downtime for normal operations. It isn’t about stealing data or locking files.

This is different from a phishing email, which tricks people into revealing credentials; ransomware, which encrypts files and demands payment; or an encryption breach, which involves unauthorized access to encrypted information. The defining feature of a DDoS attack is the flood of traffic from multiple sources aimed at interrupting service.