Understanding DDoS: Distributed Denial of Service

What is a DDoS Attack?

DDoS, or Distributed Denial of Service, is a malicious attempt to disrupt the normal traffic of a targeted server, service, or network by overwhelming the target or its surrounding infrastructure with a flood of internet traffic. This is achieved by using multiple compromised computer systems as sources of attack traffic. Exploited machines can include computers and other networked resources, such as IoT devices.

How Does a DDoS Attack Work?

A DDoS attack leverages multiple systems to generate a large volume of traffic, often overwhelming the targeted system. Here's a step-by-step breakdown of how a DDoS attack typically unfolds:

• Infection: Attackers first compromise multiple computers or devices, transforming them into a botnet. This is often done using malware.

• Coordination: The attacker controls the botnet remotely, directing it to send a flood of requests to the target server or network.

• Flooding: The compromised devices, now botnets, send an overwhelming number of requests to the target, consuming its bandwidth and resources.

• Denial of Service: Legitimate users are unable to access the targeted site or service due to the massive influx of traffic.

Types of DDoS Attacks

DDoS attacks can be categorized into several types, each targeting different aspects of a network's infrastructure:

• Volume-Based Attacks: These attacks saturate the bandwidth of the target site. Examples include UDP floods and ICMP floods.

• Protocol Attacks: These attacks consume server resources and intermediate communication equipment such as firewalls and load balancers. Examples include SYN floods and fragmented packet attacks.

• Application Layer Attacks: These attacks target specific applications or services. They are less resource-intensive but can be very effective. Examples include HTTP floods and slow POST attacks.

The Impact of DDoS Attacks

The consequences of a successful DDoS attack can be severe, including:

• Downtime: Prolonged outages can disrupt business operations and lead to loss of revenue.

• Reputation Damage: Customers may lose trust in a company if its services are frequently unavailable.

• Increased Costs: Companies may incur additional costs to mitigate attacks and strengthen their defenses.

Mitigating DDoS Attacks

Several strategies can be employed to mitigate the impact of DDoS attacks:

• Rate Limiting: Controlling the number of requests a server will accept over a certain period can help manage traffic loads.

• Web Application Firewalls (WAFs): These can filter and monitor HTTP traffic to and from a web application, providing a shield against DDoS attacks.

• Load Balancing: Distributing incoming traffic across multiple servers can prevent any single server from becoming overwhelmed.