CompTIA Network+ Practice Test

What is a key feature of an on-path network attack?

1. It involves two devices communicating directly without interference

2. It redirects traffic without the user's knowledge

3. It only works on encrypted communications

4. It is a method of physical surveillance

The correct answer is: It redirects traffic without the user's knowledge

The key feature of an on-path network attack is that it redirects traffic without the user's knowledge. In an on-path attack, the attacker secretly intercepts and relays communications between two parties who believe they are directly communicating with each other. This enables the attacker to capture sensitive data, manipulate the communication, or inject malicious content, all while remaining unnoticed by both the sender and receiver. This characteristic of being able to redirect traffic stealthily is fundamental to understanding how on-path attacks—such as man-in-the-middle attacks—function. By obscuring their presence, attackers can exploit vulnerabilities in the network and the trust relationship between users, which is a primary concern in network security.