What is the outcome of a denial of service attack?

• A. Unauthorized access to critical files
• B. Prevention of authorized resource access
• C. Data encryption theft
• D. Increased system efficiency

Answer: (B)

The outcome of a denial of service (DoS) attack is the prevention of authorized resource access. In a DoS attack, the attacker aims to disrupt the service of a targeted system, making it unavailable to legitimate users. This is typically achieved by overwhelming the system with a flood of illegitimate requests, which exhausts its resources and renders it unable to respond to legitimate traffic.

This disruption can lead to significant service outages, preventing users from accessing the information or services they need. The primary goal is not to gain unauthorized access or manipulate files, but rather to impair the system's functionality to the point that it is effectively unusable for those it is meant to serve. Therefore, option B captures the essence of the DoS attack's intent and outcome accurately.