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OCI Cloud Tech Jumpstart: How DDoS Attacks Flood Servers and Cause Massive Network Downtime

What Is the Primary Characteristic of a DDoS Cyber Attack?

Understand the primary characteristic of a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack. Learn how hackers use botnets to flood target servers with traffic, exhaust network resources, and cause severe downtime.

Question

What is the primary characteristic of a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack?

A. It involves malicious software such as viruses and worms.
B. It locks files and demands ransom.
C. It floods a target with traffic from multiple systems to cause downtime.
D. It impersonates legitimate contacts to steal credentials.

Answer

C. It floods a target with traffic from multiple systems to cause downtime.

Explanation

Imagine a massive crowd of people trying to shove their way through the single front door of a small store all at once; no one can get in or out, and the store essentially has to shut down. This is exactly how a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack works on the internet. Hackers take control of thousands of infected computers and smart devices—creating a zombie network called a “botnet”—and command them to simultaneously send a massive flood of fake data requests to a single target website or server. The target’s system becomes so overwhelmed trying to process this tsunami of fake traffic that it crashes, denying service to real, legitimate users.

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Cloud Tech Jumpstart certification exam practice question and answer (Q&A) dump with detail explanation and reference available free, helpful to pass the OCI Cloud Tech Jumpstart graded quizzes and final assessments, earn Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Cloud Tech Jumpstart digital credential and badge.