Question

What do the terms "slashdotted" and "flash crowd" refer to? What is the relationship between these instances of legitimate network overload and the consequences of a DoS attack?

a. Slashdotted refers to a sudden influx of traffic from a popular website; Flash crowd is a synonym for a DoS attack.
b. Slashdotted refers to a temporary website crash; Flash crowd is a sudden increase in legitimate traffic.
c. Slashdotted is a type of DDoS attack; Flash crowd is a strategy to counteract it.
d. Slashdotted is an internet virus; Flash crowd is a cybersecurity term for detecting such viruses.

Answer 1

Slashdotted refers to a temporary website crash caused by sudden traffic influx; flash crowd is a sudden increase in legitimate traffic.

Step-by-step explanation:

The terms 'slashdotted' and 'flash crowd' refer to instances of legitimate network overload. Slashdotted specifically refers to a temporary website crash caused by a sudden influx of traffic from a popular website, typically due to a link being shared or featured on a high-traffic website. On the other hand, a flash crowd is a sudden increase in legitimate traffic to a website or online service, often caused by an event or viral content.

The relationship between these instances of network overload and the consequences of a Denial of Service (DoS) attack is that both can result in the unavailability or degradation of a website or online service. However, the key difference is that slashdotting and flash crowds are unintentional and caused by legitimate user activity, whereas a DoS attack is a deliberate attempt to overload a network, typically by flooding it with traffic or exploiting vulnerabilities.