Which term describes a DNS-based attack intended to mislead users by altering DNS data?

Study for the Network Security Instructional Terminology Test. Enhance your knowledge with multiple choice questions, each accompanied by hints and explanations. Ensure readiness for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which term describes a DNS-based attack intended to mislead users by altering DNS data?

Explanation:
DNS poisoning describes an attack that corrupts DNS data so that domain lookups resolve to attacker-controlled IP addresses. By tampering with the mapping in a resolver’s cache or at an authoritative DNS server, a user who types a legitimate domain could be redirected to a fraudulent site without realizing it. This enables phishing, malware distribution, or other harm because the user thinks they’re visiting a trusted site, but the IP address returned by DNS points somewhere else. The other options aren’t attacks: DNS is the system that translates names to addresses, not an attack itself. Dig is a tool used to query DNS information, not a method of manipulation. Direct isn’t a recognized term for a DNS-based attack.

DNS poisoning describes an attack that corrupts DNS data so that domain lookups resolve to attacker-controlled IP addresses. By tampering with the mapping in a resolver’s cache or at an authoritative DNS server, a user who types a legitimate domain could be redirected to a fraudulent site without realizing it. This enables phishing, malware distribution, or other harm because the user thinks they’re visiting a trusted site, but the IP address returned by DNS points somewhere else.

The other options aren’t attacks: DNS is the system that translates names to addresses, not an attack itself. Dig is a tool used to query DNS information, not a method of manipulation. Direct isn’t a recognized term for a DNS-based attack.

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