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In which type of attack does an attacker gain complete control over a victim's system through fraudulent firmware updates?

  1. Permanent Denial-of-Service Attack

  2. PDoS Attack

  3. SYN Flood Attack

  4. UDP Flood Attack

The correct answer is: Permanent Denial-of-Service Attack

The type of attack where an attacker gains complete control over a victim's system through fraudulent firmware updates is often associated with Permanent Denial-of-Service (PDoS) attacks. In a PDoS attack, harmful firmware is installed on a device, which can effectively render the system inoperable and grant the attacker control over it. This attack exploits vulnerabilities in the firmware update process by providing malicious code that appears legitimate, thus allowing the attacker to manipulate or disable the device's functions. PDoS attacks are particularly concerning because they can not only deny service but also permanently damage the hardware, making recovery difficult or impossible without complete reinstallation or replacement. This starkly contrasts with other types of attacks, such as SYN Flood or UDP Flood attacks, which focus on overwhelming a system's resources rather than manipulating firmware.