What type of attack involves capturing traffic flowing through a network to obtain sensitive information?

The correct choice highlights packet sniffing as a method of capturing traffic in a network to extract sensitive information. Packet sniffing involves the use of specialized software or hardware to intercept data packets that are transmitted over a network. By analyzing this traffic, an attacker can access unencrypted information such as passwords, emails, or any other sensitive data flowing through the network.

Packet sniffing can be executed in various environments, such as public Wi-Fi networks, where unsecured data transmission increases the risk of attackers being able to intercept and read the data. This technique is particularly powerful in environments where no encryption is employed, making it easier for malicious actors to gather sensitive information without detection.

While other types of attacks listed may involve security breaches or data manipulation, they do not specifically focus on the act of capturing and analyzing network traffic for sensitive information as packet sniffing does.