Which attack type requires the attacker to be physically near the target system?

Which attack type requires the attacker to be physically near the target system?

• A. Close-In Attack
• B. Insider Attack
• C. Remote Attack
• D. Social Engineering

Answer: (A)

Close-In Attack hinges on physical proximity to the target. The attacker must be near the system to exploit it directly—think of connecting a rogue device, tampering with hardware, or observing someone entering credentials at a console. This is why proximity matters for this type of attack. In contrast, a remote attack is carried out over a network without being physically close, an insider attack involves someone who already has legitimate access (which may be remote or on-site), and social engineering relies on tricking people rather than being near the hardware itself.

Close-In Attack hinges on physical proximity to the target. The attacker must be near the system to exploit it directly—think of connecting a rogue device, tampering with hardware, or observing someone entering credentials at a console. This is why proximity matters for this type of attack.

In contrast, a remote attack is carried out over a network without being physically close, an insider attack involves someone who already has legitimate access (which may be remote or on-site), and social engineering relies on tricking people rather than being near the hardware itself.