All That You Need to Know about DDoS Attacks

A DDoS attack stands for a “distributed denial of service.” It is a type of DoS (denial of service) attack. DoS and DDoS attacks are an attempt to take control of a particular machine or network. A DoS attack originates from a single machine; its purpose is to flood a system or network with data. If a website has too much web traffic and too many tasks to complete at once, the site will stop responding and crash. This will prevent actual users from accessing the website.

Unlike a DoS attack, the attacker in a DDoS attack is often made up of multiple (or thousands of) machines, all with unique IP addresses that can come from around the world. Often, hackers take advantage of machines with poor security to help launch their attacks. The attacks usually target banks or other financial services. The attacks typically send about 50+ gigabits per second of data in order to crash the network. However, larger attacks have sent up to 500+ gigabits per second.

Read More: Why Are Dangerous Cybercrimes Going Unpunished?

DDoS attacks are often motivated attacks, and the reasoning could be political or vengeful. This has been exemplified by hacking groups like Anonymous, who target specific organizations and businesses that they believe to be corrupt. Another example would be the cyber warfare between the United States and Iran. In 2013, Iran attacked U.S. banks with DDoS attacks, supposedly in response to economic sanctions.

How to Prevent a DDoS Attack
A business or organization isn’t necessarily vulnerable to a DDoS attack if they take the right precautions. These precautions are necessary, because without them, a DDoS attack could greatly affect a business financially, in addition to resulting in a loss of customers. One of the first steps in DDoS prevention is learning how to recognize an attack. Some signs might include slow site performance, inability to access a site or page, and dramatically increased bandwidth and site traffic. The second step involves protection. Track your website’s behavior so that you have an idea of normal behavior. If a business is particularly vulnerable to a DDoS attack, it might be best to seek out a company that offers DDoS software protection.

Download PSafe Total
While you might not personally experience a DDoS attack, it’s always a good idea to protect your devices against any potential cyber attacks. Download PSafe Total for your Android devices and PSafe Total Windows for your PC to protect your devices against malicious threats 24/7. In addition, both services offer cleanup tools so that you can ensure your devices are free of unnecessary files and running as efficiently as possible.