Which option is effective if an attack targets a single server because it keeps transmission lines open for other communication?

• A. Black holing
• B. None of the above
• C. Rate limiting
• D. False open

Answer: (C)

Rate limiting controls how many requests a single client can make in a given time, throttling traffic to a service. When an attack targets one server, the goal is to saturate the link so legitimate users can’t communicate. By capping the rate, the server prevents any one source from monopolizing bandwidth or resources, keeping transmission lines open for normal traffic and maintaining service availability.

Dropping all traffic to the server (black holing) defeats the goal of keeping lines open for legitimate users, as it would cut off service entirely. The idea of a “false open” isn’t a standard protective measure and wouldn’t reliably mitigate the flood. None of the above isn’t correct here because rate limiting provides a concrete, effective way to preserve access under load.