- A
ARP poisoning
Why wrong: ARP poisoning is a technique often used to perform a man-in-the-middle attack, but it is not the attack itself. The question describes the overall effect (intercepting data), which is MITM.
- B
DNS poisoning
Why wrong: DNS poisoning corrupts DNS records to redirect users to malicious sites. It does not typically involve direct interception between two hosts after a connection is established.
- C
Man-in-the-middle
The scenario describes an attacker intercepting communications between two hosts by inserting themselves in the path. This is the classic definition of a man-in-the-middle attack.
- D
Replay attack
Why wrong: A replay attack involves capturing valid data transmissions and retransmitting them later to impersonate a user or cause a repeated action. It does not involve real-time interception.
Quick Answer
The answer is a man-in-the-middle attack. This is correct because the attacker has inserted a rogue device into the data path between two legitimate hosts, redirecting traffic through it to intercept, inspect, or modify packets in transit—the defining technical characteristic of a man-in-the-middle interception. On the CompTIA Network+ N10-009 exam, this scenario tests your ability to recognize how an attacker breaks the direct trust relationship between endpoints, often appearing in questions about ARP spoofing, rogue access points, or session hijacking. A common trap is confusing this with a denial-of-service attack, but remember: MITM focuses on interception and potential alteration, not just disruption. Memory tip: think of a “middleman” secretly reading your mail before passing it along—if the data path is redirected, it’s MITM.
N10-009 Network Security Practice Question
This N10-009 practice question tests your understanding of network security. 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 administrator discovers that an attacker has intercepted data between two legitimate hosts by redirecting traffic through a rogue device. 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
This is a classic man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack, where the attacker intercepts and potentially alters communication between two legitimate hosts by inserting a rogue device into the data path. The key characteristic is the redirection of traffic through the attacker's device, which allows them to capture, inspect, or modify packets in transit.
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 poisoning
Why it's wrong here
ARP poisoning is a technique often used to perform a man-in-the-middle attack, but it is not the attack itself. The question describes the overall effect (intercepting data), which is MITM.
- ✗
DNS poisoning
Why it's wrong here
DNS poisoning corrupts DNS records to redirect users to malicious sites. It does not typically involve direct interception between two hosts after a connection is established.
- ✓
Man-in-the-middle
Why this is correct
The scenario describes an attacker intercepting communications between two hosts by inserting themselves in the path. This is the classic definition of a man-in-the-middle attack.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Replay attack
Why it's wrong here
A replay attack involves capturing valid data transmissions and retransmitting them later to impersonate a user or cause a repeated action. It does not involve real-time interception.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the distinction between the attack type (MITM) and the technique used to achieve it (ARP poisoning), leading candidates to choose the method rather than the broader category.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In a MITM attack, the attacker often uses ARP spoofing to associate their MAC address with the IP of the default gateway, causing hosts to send traffic to the attacker instead of the router. Tools like Ettercap or Bettercap automate this by sending forged ARP replies, and the attacker can then forward packets using IP forwarding (e.g., /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward on Linux) to maintain connectivity while sniffing or modifying data.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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.
- →
Network Security — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Network Security practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All N10-009 questions
520 questions across all exam domains
- →
CompTIA Network+ N10-009 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
N10-009 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related N10-009 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Networking Concepts practice questions
Practise N10-009 questions linked to Networking Concepts.
Network Implementation practice questions
Practise N10-009 questions linked to Network Implementation.
Network Operations practice questions
Practise N10-009 questions linked to Network Operations.
Network Security practice questions
Practise N10-009 questions linked to Network Security.
Network Troubleshooting practice questions
Practise N10-009 questions linked to Network Troubleshooting.
Network+ network fundamentals practice questions
Practise N10-009 questions linked to Network+ network fundamentals.
Practice this exam
Start a free N10-009 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this N10-009 question test?
Network Security — This question tests Network Security — 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 — This is a classic man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack, where the attacker intercepts and potentially alters communication between two legitimate hosts by inserting a rogue device into the data path. The key characteristic is the redirection of traffic through the attacker's device, which allows them to capture, inspect, or modify packets in transit.
What should I do if I get this N10-009 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
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Keep practising
More N10-009 practice questions
- Which layer of the OSI model is responsible for logical addressing and routing of packets between networks?
- Users in VLAN 10 cannot obtain IP addresses from a DHCP server located in VLAN 20. The router has an ip helper-address c…
- Which of the following is a characteristic of a Layer 2 network switch?
- Which of the following network devices operates primarily at Layer 2 of the OSI model and uses MAC addresses to forward…
- Which of the following is a characteristic of UDP when compared to TCP?
- Which of the following IPv6 addresses is a valid link-local address?
Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This N10-009 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 N10-009 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.