Which of the following refers to the act of distributing false IP address/name pairs to misdirect traffic?

The correct choice is DNS poisoning, which involves inserting false information into a Domain Name System (DNS) database. This manipulation leads to the association of incorrect IP addresses with certain domain names, effectively misdirecting users attempting to access specific websites. When a user types a legitimate domain name, they might be redirected to a malicious website instead, creating a significant security risk.

This tactic can be employed by attackers to intercept traffic, steal data, or propagate malware. It demonstrates how the DNS infrastructure, crucial for translating domain names into IP addresses, can be exploited to redirect users and disrupt network operations.

IP spoofing refers to masquerading as a trusted source by forging the IP address in packet headers, but it does not involve altering DNS entries. ARP poisoning targets the Address Resolution Protocol to associate the attacker's MAC address with the IP address of a legitimate network device, effectively allowing the attacker to intercept packets on a local network. DNS hijacking typically involves taking control of the DNS settings on a victim's machine or a DNS server but does not necessarily involve the insertion of false data as in DNS poisoning.