Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

Which type of threat source is illustrated by James's DoS attack on a website?

1. Unintentional threats

2. Unstructured external threats

3. Internal threats

4. External threats

The correct answer is: Unstructured external threats

The type of threat source exemplified by James's DoS (Denial of Service) attack on a website aligns with unstructured external threats. This categorization is appropriate because unstructured external threats typically stem from attackers who exploit weaknesses without a high level of sophistication or pre-planning. In the case of a DoS attack, the perpetrator seeks to disrupt service, often through overwhelming the website with excessive traffic or requests, which reflects an impulsive or opportunistic approach. In contrast, other classifications such as unintentional threats refer to incidents that arise from accidental actions by users, while internal threats arise from individuals within the organization, typically involving employees or contractors misusing their access. External threats, while similar to unstructured threats, are usually more general and can include both structured and unstructured attacks, but James's specific actions indicate a lack of elaborate planning, placing it firmly within the realm of unstructured external threats.