Certified Incident Handler (CIH) Practice Ecam

Which type of attack involves an attacker altering hardware or software resources before installation?

1. Code Injection Attack

2. Distribution Attack

3. Phishing Attack

4. Man-in-the-Middle Attack

The correct answer is: Distribution Attack

The correct choice refers to a distribution attack, which specifically involves an attacker tampering with hardware or software resources before they are installed in the target environment. This type of attack aims to compromise the integrity of the software or hardware during the distribution phase, allowing the attacker to introduce malicious code or manipulate the product to exploit vulnerabilities once the user installs it. In the context of cybersecurity, this attack is particularly dangerous because it can occur without the end-user's awareness, making it difficult to detect until it has caused harm. By the time the hardware or software is installed and activated, the compromise has been executed, potentially leading to data breaches or other security incidents. The other types of attacks mentioned do not fit this definition: a code injection attack typically occurs after the application has been installed and is running, where an attacker attempts to insert malicious code. A phishing attack generally involves deceiving individuals into revealing sensitive information, and a man-in-the-middle attack focuses on intercepting communications between two parties rather than altering resources before installation. Each of these reflects different tactics and methodologies in the landscape of cybersecurity threats.