What is a key characteristic of a DoS attack compared to other types of cyber attacks?

A key characteristic of a Denial of Service (DoS) attack is that it aims to disrupt service availability. DoS attacks are designed to overwhelm a network, service, or server with an excessive amount of traffic or requests, rendering it incapable of performing its normal functions. This results in legitimate users being unable to access the service, which is the primary goal of such attacks.

Unlike other types of cyber attacks that may focus on accessing private data, infiltrating internal systems, or stealing data, a DoS attack does not typically involve any of these objectives. Instead, the attacker's aim is to deny users access to a service, which can have significant implications for business operations and user trust. This distinct purpose of disrupting service makes DoS attacks unique in the landscape of cybersecurity threats.