Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

Identify the type of attack performed by Mark on the cloud service firm to gain access to critical data.

1. Brute-force attack

2. Spear-phishing attack

3. Cloud hopper attack

4. Ransomware attack

The correct answer is: Cloud hopper attack

The attack identified as a cloud hopper attack involves exploiting vulnerabilities in cloud service providers to move from one compromised client account or system to another within a cloud environment. This type of attack takes advantage of the interconnectedness of cloud services, allowing an attacker to gain access to sensitive data stored across various cloud platforms without needing to directly breach the major service provider’s defenses. Cloud hoppers often target smaller organizations that utilize cloud services, thereby enabling them to indirectly access larger corporations' data through those smaller companies. This attack is particularly effective because it leverages the shared nature of cloud systems, which can sometimes have weaker security measures compared to the primary provider. In contrast, other types of attacks, such as brute-force attacks, typically involve guessing passwords to gain access and are less sophisticated in targeting cloud structure. Spear-phishing attacks, while focused and targeted, are not specifically aimed at exploiting the cloud environment as a whole. Ransomware attacks involve malware that encrypts data for a ransom and do not necessarily pertain to the method of accessing cloud services through compromised intermediary accounts. By understanding how cloud hopper attacks function, it becomes clear why this choice is the correct identification of the type of attack Mark performed against the cloud service firm.