Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

Which attack technique did Eric employ to compromise the security of the IoT device?

1. Frequency/voltage tampering

2. Denial of Service

3. Cross-site scripting

4. Buffer overflow

The correct answer is: Frequency/voltage tampering

The technique that Eric employed, which is frequency/voltage tampering, involves manipulating the power supply or frequency inputs of an IoT device to disrupt its normal operations or extract sensitive data. This form of attack takes advantage of the hardware's physical and electrical characteristics, making it a particularly effective method for compromising devices that may not have robust security measures in place. Frequency/voltage tampering can lead to various outcomes, such as causing device malfunctions, resetting the device to factory settings, or even allowing attackers to gain control of the device. This approach is especially relevant in the context of IoT devices, which often operate on specific power and signal requirements. By altering these factors, an attacker can exploit vulnerabilities that are not just software-related but stem from the device's physical operation. In contrast, the other techniques mentioned focus on different aspects of security. Denial of Service targets the availability of services by overwhelming the device or network, cross-site scripting deals with exploiting web vulnerabilities, and buffer overflow pertains to memory corruption in software applications. While all these techniques can be effective in compromising systems, the specific nature of frequency/voltage tampering uniquely aligns with the physical security breaches associated with IoT devices.