What Is a DDoS Attack? Distributed Denial of Service

What does DDOS stand for?

 

A distributed-denial-of-service, or DDoS, attack is the bombardment of simultaneous data requests to a central server. The attacker generates these requests from multiple compromised systems.

In doing so, the attacker hopes to exhaust the target’s Internet bandwidth and RAM. The ultimate goal is to crash the target’s system and disrupt its business.




What does a DDoS attack do?

An attacker may use a DDoS attack to extort a business for money. DDoS attacks can also provide advantages to business competitors or political benefits to governments or “hacktivists.” The failure of a company’s network can benefit many people.

How long can a DDoS attack last?

The length of a DDoS attack varies. Attacks like the Ping of Death can be quick. The Slowloris attack takes longer to develop. According to a Radware report, 33 percent of DDoS attacks last an hour, 60 percent last less than a full day, and 15 percent last as long as a month.

What does DDoS protection do?

Protecting your business from DDoS attacks is a crucial part of securing your network. To defend your network against a large array of attacks, you must deploy a complete and holistic IT approach that uses components capable of seamlessly working together.