DDoS stands for “Distributed Denial of Service.” It is a type of cyber-attack in which multiple compromised computers or devices, often called a “botnet,” are used to flood a target system or network with an overwhelming amount of traffic, requests, or data. The goal of a DDoS attack is to make the target system or network unavailable to its intended users by overloading its resources or causing it to crash.
Here’s a breakdown of the components of DDoS:
1. Distributed: Unlike traditional Denial of Service (DoS) attacks that are executed from a single source, DDoS attacks involve multiple sources. These sources are usually computers or devices that have been infected with malware and are under the control of the attacker.
2. Denial of Service: The main objective of a DDoS attack is to deny legitimate users access to a service or resource. By flooding the target with a massive amount of traffic, the attacker can consume its bandwidth, processing power, or other resources, rendering it unable to respond to legitimate requests.
3. Botnet: The collection of compromised computers or devices used in a DDoS attack is often referred to as a botnet. Each individual device in the botnet is called a bot or zombie. Botnets can consist of thousands or even millions of devices, making the attack much more powerful and challenging to defend against.
4. Amplification: Some DDoS attacks use techniques to amplify the traffic directed at the target. For example, attackers may use open DNS resolvers or other publicly accessible services that respond with larger packets than the requests they receive. This results in a smaller number of attacker-controlled devices generating a much larger volume of traffic toward the target.
DDoS attacks can target various online services, websites, or internet-connected infrastructure. The motives behind DDoS attacks can vary, including financial gain, revenge, political activism, or simply the desire to cause disruption and chaos.
Defend Against DDoS
To defend against DDoS attacks, organizations often use specialized hardware, software, or services designed to detect and mitigate such attacks. These defense mechanisms aim to identify malicious traffic and filter it out, allowing legitimate traffic to reach its intended destination. Despite these countermeasures, DDoS attacks can still pose significant challenges and disruptions, especially when they are large-scale and sophisticated.