Which attack type occurs when attackers tamper with hardware or software prior to installation?

Which attack type occurs when attackers tamper with hardware or software prior to installation?

• A. Intelligence-based warfare
• B. Distribution Attacks
• C. C2 warfare
• D. Active attacks

Answer: (B)

Tampering before installation is a distribution (supply chain) attack. The attacker targets the delivery path—hardware or software—so the product arrives compromised. This means the malicious code, backdoor, or faulty firmware is already present when the user installs or uses it, making detection much harder because the trustworthiness of the supply chain is broken at the source. Examples include trojanized software installers, tampered firmware updates, or counterfeit hardware with hidden malicious components. The other terms describe different contexts or threats and don’t specifically capture the idea of altering something during distribution before it’s installed.

Tampering before installation is a distribution (supply chain) attack. The attacker targets the delivery path—hardware or software—so the product arrives compromised. This means the malicious code, backdoor, or faulty firmware is already present when the user installs or uses it, making detection much harder because the trustworthiness of the supply chain is broken at the source. Examples include trojanized software installers, tampered firmware updates, or counterfeit hardware with hidden malicious components. The other terms describe different contexts or threats and don’t specifically capture the idea of altering something during distribution before it’s installed.