What is a DDoS attack characterized by?

A DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack is specifically characterized by overwhelming a network or service with a flood of malicious traffic, which renders the targeted services unavailable to legitimate users. The goal of this type of attack is to disrupt the normal functioning of a server, service, or network by consuming all available resources or bandwidth, effectively causing service outages and disruptions.

In a DDoS attack, the malicious traffic often comes from multiple sources—typically a network of compromised devices (often called a botnet) which are used to send large volumes of requests to the target. This mass influx of traffic can incapacitate the target's capabilities, leading to severe impairments in its operations, which is why the correct choice focuses on this flooding aspect that leads to service disruptions.

This definition distinguishes DDoS attacks from other cyber threats: encrypting data for ransom pertains to ransomware attacks, gaining unauthorized access relates to hacking and data breaches, and manipulating individuals describes social engineering tactics. Each of these has different methods and objectives when compared to the congestion and service interruption goals of a DDoS attack.