Tracing Network Attacks with Protocol Logs

A technician is reviewing network device logs in an attempt to trace an attack that occurred on the network.

Which of the following protocols would affect whether or not the technician can properly trace the attack through the network using the logs?

A.

B.

SMTP

C.

NTP

D.

RDP.

C.

When trying to trace an attack on a network, it's essential to examine the network device logs to identify the source of the attack. The logs of network devices, such as routers, switches, and firewalls, can provide critical information to the technician to determine how the attack occurred and which devices were affected.

In this scenario, the question asks which protocol could affect the technician's ability to trace the attack using network device logs. The four protocols listed in the question are HTTP, SMTP, NTP, and RDP.

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is a protocol used for web browsing. It is unlikely that HTTP would affect the technician's ability to trace the attack, as it is not typically involved in network attacks.

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is a protocol used for sending email messages. Like HTTP, it is unlikely that SMTP would affect the technician's ability to trace the attack unless the attack was specifically targeted at email systems.

NTP (Network Time Protocol) is a protocol used for synchronizing the clocks on network devices. NTP logs can be used to determine the timing of an attack, and a discrepancy in the clock times could indicate that an attack occurred. Therefore, NTP could affect the technician's ability to trace the attack if the logs are not synchronized correctly.

RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) is a protocol used to access and control a remote computer. RDP logs can be used to determine if an attacker used a remote desktop connection to access the network. Therefore, RDP could affect the technician's ability to trace the attack if the logs are not enabled or configured correctly.

In conclusion, the protocol that could affect the technician's ability to trace the attack using network device logs is NTP (option C), as it relies on the accuracy of clock synchronization. However, it's important to note that any protocol involved in the attack could potentially affect the logs' usefulness, depending on the attack's nature and the devices involved.