Which of the following is a benefit of DNSSEC?

The benefit of DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) is primarily its ability to thwart certain types of attacks such as pharming and man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks. DNSSEC provides a way to validate the authenticity of DNS responses through digital signatures. This means that when a query is made to a DNS server, DNSSEC ensures that the response originates from a legitimate source and has not been tampered with during transit.

By implementing DNSSEC, users are protected from phishing attempts where attackers redirect users to malicious websites impersonating legitimate ones. Pharming attacks specifically manipulate DNS settings to guide users to fraudulent sites, often without their knowledge. DNSSEC mitigates these risks by verifying the integrity and authenticity of DNS records, thereby ensuring that a user reaches the correct website.

The other options, while related to network security, do not accurately describe the specific purpose and benefit of DNSSEC. It doesn’t directly prevent DDoS attacks or improve website loading speed, and it isn’t designed to encrypt email communications. The primary role of DNSSEC is to enhance the security of the domain name resolution process, thereby protecting users from certain types of cyber threats.