What is the purpose of a water hole attack?

The purpose of a water hole attack is primarily aimed at exploiting specific websites that are of interest to a targeted group or organization. In this type of attack, the attacker identifies a website that is frequently visited by the target's employees or members and compromises that site. By doing so, they can infect it with malware, which may later be downloaded onto devices of those visiting the site when they are unaware of the compromise.

This tactic is effective because it takes advantage of the trust that users have in legitimate sites. Instead of targeting individuals directly, which requires more effort and may provoke defenses, attackers simply wait for users to visit the infected site. Once users interact with it, they might inadvertently download malware, allowing the attacker to initiate further access or control over the victim's system.

Other options don’t directly match the concept of a water hole attack. For instance, while installing malware is a consequence of the attack, it’s not the primary focus. The aim is not to compromise a network's backbone in general AS that entails a more technical and deeper level of access than what a water hole attack typically seeks. Accessing databases storing sensitive information could occur as a final step after successful exploitation, but it doesn’t accurately describe the mechanism of a water hole attack itself