Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Cybersecurity Practice Test

In IP Spoofing, what aspect of the packet is manipulated?

1. Destination IP address

2. Payload content

3. Source IP address

4. Checksum only

The correct answer is: Source IP address

In IP Spoofing, the key aspect that is manipulated is the source IP address. By altering the source IP address in the packet's header, an attacker can make it appear as though the packet is coming from a different (and often trusted) source. This manipulation can be used to bypass security measures, initiate attacks, or impersonate a trusted entity without detection. Changing the source IP address can help the attacker mask their true identity and can also be employed in various attacks, such as Denial of Service (DoS) attacks, in which the aim is to flood a target with traffic without revealing the actual location of the attacker. The other aspects, such as the destination IP address, payload content, and checksum, do not directly align with the definition and purpose of IP Spoofing. While the destination address is critical for routing, and the payload is the actual data sent, they are not the primary focus in the manipulation criteria of IP Spoofing. The checksum is typically altered to keep the packet's integrity, but it is not outright manipulated for the purpose of spoofing; rather, it's calculated based on the header and data to ensure the packet is not malformed. Therefore, the accurate focus when discussing IP Spoofing is indeed