Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

What is the primary function of the Ettercap tool?

1. To conduct ARP poisoning

2. To track social engineering attacks

3. To analyze network traffic

4. To execute denial of service attacks

The correct answer is: To conduct ARP poisoning

The primary function of the Ettercap tool is to conduct ARP poisoning. ARP poisoning, also known as ARP spoofing, allows an attacker to intercept and manipulate data being transferred on a local network by sending falsified ARP messages. This technique enables the attacker to associate their MAC address with the IP address of another device on the network, effectively allowing them to receive data intended for that device. Ettercap is specifically designed to facilitate this kind of man-in-the-middle attack, enabling not only ARP poisoning but also the monitoring and manipulation of network traffic, which can be a powerful tool for ethical hackers and network administrators alike when testing network security. While the other options present various techniques and approaches in cybersecurity, they do not encapsulate the primary design and utility of Ettercap. Tracking social engineering attacks involves human interaction and psychological tactics, analyzing network traffic can be performed using various tools and techniques, and executing denial of service attacks is a different method aimed at overwhelming networks or services. These functionalities, while relevant to the broader field of network security, do not align with the specific purpose that Ettercap serves, which is focused on ARP poisoning and corresponding network exploitation.