What type of attack attempts to bring down a system by overwhelming it with requests?

The correct answer identifies a Denial of Service (DoS) attack as an attempt to bring down a system by overwhelming it with incoming requests. In a DoS attack, the primary goal is to make a network service unavailable to its intended users. By flooding a system with excessive traffic or requests, the attack drains the system's resources, making it unable to process legitimate requests. This type of attack can disrupt operations, hinder access, and create significant downtime for services, resulting in potential financial and reputational damage for organizations.

In contrast, spyware refers to software that secretly monitors user activity and collects personal data without consent. Phishing is a social engineering attack aimed at tricking individuals into providing sensitive information, usually by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in electronic communications. A man-in-the-middle attack involves an attacker secretly intercepting and relaying communication between two parties. Understanding these distinctions is essential in recognizing the various tactics used in cyber threats.