What Is DDoS?
A DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack is a type of cyber sabotage that disrupts a network or online service by overwhelming it with traffic. These attacks are typically carried out using botnets—large networks of compromised devices controlled remotely.
Common goals of DDoS attacks include:
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Crashing websites
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Interrupting online services
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Damaging company reputation
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Extorting ransom payments
How It Works
Once a DDoS attack begins, the server is flooded with fake requests. Real users can no longer access the service. No physical breach is needed—just raw digital force.
Some well-known DDoS techniques include:
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SYN Flood: Sends connection requests repeatedly without completing the handshake.
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HTTP Flood: Mimics real users by sending countless page requests.
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UDP Flood: Bombards random ports with data to exhaust bandwidth.
Why It’s a Serious Threat
DDoS attacks can last from minutes to days. During that time, a business might experience:
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Loss of sales and revenue
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Frustrated customers
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Brand trust erosion
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Drop in search engine rankings
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Cascading failures in internal systems
Protection Methods
Responding to an ongoing attack is difficult. Preventive action is key:
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Use DDoS mitigation services: Cloudflare, Akamai, AWS Shield, etc.
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Deploy CDNs: Distribute load and reduce pressure on origin servers.
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Set up firewall rules: Block suspicious IPs.
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Apply rate limits: Limit the number of requests over time.
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Monitor traffic in real-time: Detect spikes early.
Final Word
Every online platform is a potential target. The best time to prepare for a DDoS attack is before it happens. They may be stealthy, but with the right defenses, they don’t have to be devastating.