Final answer:
File extensions are a form of weak file type enforcement because changing the extension does not modify the file's content or structure, and only serves as a label for the operating system to recognize.
Step-by-step explanation:
Since a file extension can be changed without changing the file type, file extensions are a form of weak file type enforcement. File extensions serve as a simple identifier for the operating system to recognize and associate the content with appropriate software applications that are capable of opening and working with the file. However, changing the file extension does not alter the actual content or format of the file itself, which is determined by the file's header and internal structure. This is why a JPG image remains an image even if its extension is renamed to .txt or .docx; the image won't suddenly become a text or document file. This characteristic also poses a security risk, as it can be used to disguise malicious files under benign extensions.
A file extension is the characters that appear after the last dot in a file's name, indicating the file type. The file extension does not always accurately represent the file type and can be changed without altering the actual file type. Therefore, file extensions are a form of weak file type enforcement as they do not provide strong assurance of the file's content or format.