What is the purpose of a denial-of-service (DoS) attack?

• A. To strengthen network security by limiting access
• B. To gather intelligence on a network's traffic
• C. To overwhelm a network or server making it unavailable
• D. To encrypt sensitive data during transmission

Answer: (C)

The purpose of a denial-of-service (DoS) attack is to overwhelm a network or server, rendering it unavailable to users. DoS attacks achieve this by flooding the target with excessive traffic or requests, ultimately exhausting its resources and preventing legitimate users from accessing the services provided. The focus is on disruption; attackers aim to deny users access to important applications, websites, or services by crippling the infrastructure that supports them.

DoS attacks can take various forms, including sending large amounts of traffic, exploiting software vulnerabilities, or using botnets—networks of compromised computers—to launch widespread assaults. The ultimate goal of such attacks is not to gain unauthorized access or gather intelligence but rather to cause service disruption, which can lead to financial losses and reputational damage for individuals or organizations affected. Hence, option C accurately describes the intent behind a denial-of-service attack.