To answer this question, you need to understand the different techniques used in software testing and security analysis.
Option A) Source code analysis - This option involves examining the source code of a program to identify vulnerabilities and security flaws. It focuses on analyzing the code structure, logic, and implementation details. This technique can help identify security vulnerabilities, but it does not specifically involve examining the absence of security characteristics.
Option B) Property-based Testing - This option is the correct answer. Property-based testing is a technique that involves specifying properties or characteristics that should hold true for a given software system. These properties are expressed as logical assertions or constraints. In this technique, the source code is examined to check if the expected security characteristics or properties are absent, which can indicate potential security vulnerabilities.
Option C) Black Box debugging - This option refers to a debugging technique where the tester has no knowledge of the internal workings of the software being tested. It focuses on observing the input-output behavior of the system to identify issues or errors. While black box debugging can help identify security vulnerabilities, it does not specifically involve examining the absence of security characteristics.
Option D) Dynamic Code Analysis - This option involves analyzing the behavior of a program during runtime. It includes techniques such as code instrumentation and dynamic analysis to identify security vulnerabilities. However, dynamic code analysis focuses on identifying vulnerabilities in the code that is actually executed, rather than examining the absence of security characteristics.
The correct answer is Option B) Property-based Testing. This technique involves examining the source code to check for the absence of specific security characteristics or properties, which can help identify potential security vulnerabilities.