- A
ARP spoofing
Why wrong: ARP spoofing is a specific technique used in MitM attacks, but the description is broader.
- B
DNS poisoning
Why wrong: DNS poisoning corrupts DNS resolution, but not necessarily interception of existing communications.
- C
Denial of Service (DoS)
Why wrong: DoS aims to disrupt availability, not intercept communications.
- D
Man-in-the-middle (MitM)
MitM involves interception and alteration of communications.
Question 529 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 reviewing logs and notices that an attacker has intercepted and modified communications between two devices without their knowledge. Which type of attack is this?
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
✓
Man-in-the-middle (MitM)
This scenario describes an attacker intercepting and modifying communications between two devices without their knowledge, which is the defining characteristic of a Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attack. In a MitM attack, the attacker positions themselves between the two communicating parties, allowing them to eavesdrop, capture, and alter data in transit while both endpoints believe they are communicating directly with each other.
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 it's wrong here
ARP spoofing is a specific technique used in MitM attacks, but the description is broader.
- ✗
DNS poisoning
Why it's wrong here
DNS poisoning corrupts DNS resolution, but not necessarily interception of existing communications.
- ✗
Denial of Service (DoS)
Why it's wrong here
DoS aims to disrupt availability, not intercept communications.
- ✓
Man-in-the-middle (MitM)
Why this is correct
MitM involves interception and alteration of communications.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that Cisco often tests the distinction between the attack technique (e.g., ARP spoofing) and the broader attack category (MitM), leading candidates to confuse a specific method with the overall attack type described in the question.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, a classic MitM attack often leverages ARP spoofing to redirect traffic through the attacker's machine, which then uses IP forwarding to relay packets while capturing or modifying them. In a real-world scenario, an attacker might use tools like Ettercap or Bettercap to perform ARP cache poisoning on a switched network, enabling them to intercept HTTPS sessions if the victim ignores certificate warnings or if the attacker uses a rogue CA. This attack exploits the lack of mutual authentication in protocols like HTTP or unencrypted Telnet, highlighting why end-to-end encryption and certificate pinning are critical defenses.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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: Man-in-the-middle (MitM) — This scenario describes an attacker intercepting and modifying communications between two devices without their knowledge, which is the defining characteristic of a Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attack. In a MitM attack, the attacker positions themselves between the two communicating parties, allowing them to eavesdrop, capture, and alter data in transit while both endpoints believe they are communicating directly with each other.
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.
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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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