- A
ARP spoofing
ARP spoofing links an attacker's MAC to a legitimate IP.
- B
Denial of Service
Why wrong: DoS floods a target, not necessarily spoofing.
- C
DNS poisoning
Why wrong: DNS poisoning corrupts DNS cache, not direct MAC/IP spoofing.
- D
IP spoofing
IP spoofing uses a fake source IP address.
- E
Phishing
Why wrong: Phishing is social engineering, not network spoofing.
Question 585 of 1,000
200-201 Security Concepts Practice Question
This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of security concepts. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A security analyst is investigating a potential data breach. The analyst identifies that the attacker used a technique to impersonate a legitimate user by spoofing the MAC address and IP address. Which TWO types of network attacks could involve these techniques? (Choose two.)
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
ARP spoofing
ARP spoofing is correct because it involves an attacker sending forged ARP messages over a local network to associate their MAC address with the IP address of a legitimate user. This allows the attacker to intercept, modify, or redirect traffic intended for that user, effectively impersonating them at Layer 2.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
ARP spoofing
Why this is correct
ARP spoofing links an attacker's MAC to a legitimate IP.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Denial of Service
Why it's wrong here
DoS floods a target, not necessarily spoofing.
- ✗
DNS poisoning
Why it's wrong here
DNS poisoning corrupts DNS cache, not direct MAC/IP spoofing.
- ✓
IP spoofing
Why this is correct
IP spoofing uses a fake source IP address.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Phishing
Why it's wrong here
Phishing is social engineering, not network spoofing.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between IP spoofing (Layer 3) and ARP spoofing (Layer 2), and candidates may incorrectly assume that IP spoofing alone is sufficient for impersonation on a local network, forgetting that ARP resolution is required for actual traffic interception.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In ARP spoofing, the attacker sends gratuitous ARP replies with a forged sender MAC address, causing the victim's ARP cache to map the attacker's MAC to the target IP. This is often a precursor to man-in-the-middle attacks, where the attacker can sniff or modify traffic without breaking the TCP connection. Tools like Ettercap or arpspoof automate this by sending unsolicited ARP packets at intervals to maintain the poisoned cache.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 200-201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-201 question test?
Security Concepts — This question tests Security Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: ARP spoofing — ARP spoofing is correct because it involves an attacker sending forged ARP messages over a local network to associate their MAC address with the IP address of a legitimate user. This allows the attacker to intercept, modify, or redirect traffic intended for that user, effectively impersonating them at Layer 2.
What should I do if I get this 200-201 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This 200-201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-201 exam.
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