What is the main aim of a DDoS attack?

• A. To steal sensitive information from users
• B. To overwhelm a service, making it unavailable
• C. To rediscover network vulnerabilities
• D. To install malware on devices

Answer: (B)

The primary objective of a DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack is to overwhelm a service with a flood of traffic, rendering it unavailable to legitimate users. During this type of attack, multiple compromised systems target a single service to exhaust its resources, such as bandwidth or processing power. This overwhelming influx of requests prevents the server from responding to valid user requests, which can lead to prolonged downtime and disruptions for both the service provider and its users.

Options that suggest stealing sensitive information, rediscovering network vulnerabilities, or installing malware do not accurately reflect the intention of a DDoS attack, which focuses instead on disruption rather than infiltration or theft. Understanding this distinction is important for recognizing the different types of cyber threats and their impact on services and networks.