Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Cybersecurity Practice Test

What hacking technique involves corrupting DNS data to redirect traffic?

1. Phishing

2. DNS Spoofing

3. Keylogging

4. Man-in-the-Middle

The correct answer is: DNS Spoofing

DNS spoofing is a hacking technique that manipulates the Domain Name System (DNS) data to redirect internet traffic to unintended destinations. This breach occurs when malicious actors alter the DNS responses, making a website's IP address point to a different server, potentially one that they control. This technique can lead to various security threats, including phishing attacks, where users are led to counterfeit websites designed to steal personal information or credentials. By corrupting the DNS data, the attacker effectively masquerades as the legitimate site, making it challenging for users to identify the deception. The success of this technique relies on the trust placed in the DNS protocol by users and their browsing habits. In contrast, techniques like phishing focus on tricking users into providing sensitive information through fraudulent communication, while keylogging involves capturing user keystrokes to gather passwords or other information without altering DNS data. Man-in-the-middle attacks facilitate eavesdropping or data modification between two parties, but they do not specifically involve DNS corruption primarily. Thus, DNS spoofing is the most accurate descriptor for the technique that redirects traffic by corrupting DNS data.