Which type of attack can be identified using system resource monitors?

A denial-of-service (DoS) attack can indeed be identified using system resource monitors. In such an attack, the goal is to overwhelm a system's resources—like CPU, memory, or network bandwidth—leading to a degradation of service or complete unavailability. System resource monitors track the performance and utilization of these resources, allowing administrators to spot unusual spikes in usage that could indicate a DoS attack.

By observing metrics such as an increase in incoming traffic, high CPU usage, or unusual memory consumption, security personnel can infer that a DoS attack might be in progress. This helps in the timely identification and mitigation of the attack before it causes significant disruptions to the services.

Other types of attacks, like SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and man-in-the-middle, often exploit vulnerabilities in code or communication rather than the sheer volume of resource usage. They may not cause noticeable spikes in system resource metrics, therefore making it difficult to detect them using standard system monitoring tools focused on resource usage.