What does DNSSEC primarily prevent regarding DNS queries?

DNSSEC, which stands for Domain Name System Security Extensions, is primarily designed to enhance the security of the Domain Name System (DNS) by providing a way to ensure that the responses to DNS queries are authentic and have not been altered in transit. By adding a layer of cryptographic signatures to DNS data, DNSSEC helps prevent spoofing of DNS query responses. This means it can effectively mitigate the risk of attackers providing false DNS responses that could redirect users to malicious sites or services.

While preventing spoofing is its primary function, the importance of this feature lies in its ability to maintain the integrity and authenticity of internet communications. This ensures that users are directed to the correct websites, thus fostering trust in online activities.

The other options, although they might relate to DNS or encompass broader security concerns, do not capture the core purpose of DNSSEC's functionality as accurately as the prevention of spoofing does. Man-in-the-middle attacks, server overloads, and reputation issues, while relevant in the context of cybersecurity, are not specifically addressed by DNSSEC in the same direct way as the prevention of query response spoofing.