What are DDoS attacks and how to prevent them?

The importance of understanding and preventing cyber threats, such as Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, becomes increasingly critical. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the nitty-gritty of DDoS attacks, exploring their nature, types, prevention methods, and much more.

This blog post will take a look at some of the most common questions about DDoS attacks, such as what are DDoS attacks, how to detect DDos, how to prevent a DDos attack, and how to report a DDos attack.

What is a DDoS Attack?

In technical terms, a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack occurs when a person attemps to shut down a website by inundating a specific part of it with an overwhelming volume of traffic, ultimately causing the server to crash (thus resulting in the “denial of service” to the site’s users).

Given the intricate nature of websites, hackers have devised various forms of DDoS attacks, each targeting distinct layers:

1. Volume-Based Attacks, the cornerstone of botnets, aim to overwhelm the server’s bandwidth. Analogous to draining a water source, these attacks exhaust the available bandwidth, leaving none for legitimate users.
2. Protocol Attacks, more sophisticated in nature, seek to flood the network with an excessive number of server requests (commonly referred to as “packets”). Comparable to congesting a freeway system, these attacks overload the network beyond its capacity.
3. Application Layer Attacks, perhaps the most refined, exploit vulnerabilities in a website’s application code to overload the system. Though challenging to analogize, envision manipulating an antiquated switchboard to mistakenly believe each incoming call requires ten lines.

To execute a DDoS attack, hackers often rely on botnets—collections of compromised computers infected with their malware. By instructing all bots to repeatedly access the target website, the hacker effectively orchestrates a distributed onslaught. This distributed approach mimics genuine traffic, as the requests originate from diverse sources, resembling legitimate user visits.

Adding to the complexity, some individuals construct botnets for lease, offering DDoS capabilities as a service. This outsourcing of malicious activity underscores the alarming ease with which DDoS attacks can be orchestrated, effectively shifting the burden of responsibility to a third party.

Who is at Risk of a DDoS Attack?

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not just multinational corporations that fall prey to DDoS attacks. In fact, smaller websites with less sophisticated DDoS-prevention technology are often more vulnerable targets. Even individuals with no affiliation to the targeted website may encounter sluggishness. Consider this: if you notice sluggishness on your website and discover that the traffic originates from a botnet, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you were the intended victim. It could be that your website shares the same server as the targeted site, inadvertently experiencing the consequences of the attack.

The Impact of DDoS Attacks

DDoS attacks can have severe consequences, including:

• Website Downtime: The most immediate impact of a DDoS attack is website downtime, rendering it inaccessible to users.
• Loss of Data: In some cases, hackers use DDoS attacks as a diversion, stealing valuable data while the target is preoccupied with the attack.
• Damage to Reputation: A successful DDoS attack can tarnish a company’s reputation, eroding user trust and potentially leading to a loss of customers.
• Financial Losses: The combined cost of lost business, implementing emergency IT solutions, and possible data theft can be significant.

Warding off DDoS Attacks

While the threat of DDoS attacks is real and potentially damaging, there are effective measures you can take to shield your website.

Invest in website security

Website Security is a great way to protect against DDoS attacks. Not only does it help to protect your website against DDoS attacks with a built-in firewall (which we go on to recommend below), but it also comes with so many great add-ons which will boost your protection for both you and your visitors. An SSL certificate will reassure people that your website is safe, and cares about safety. And malware scanning will help to identify any potential threats before they even happen.

Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF)

A WAF inspects incoming traffic and applies a set of rules and filters to weed out malicious traffic, including DDoS attacks.

Regularly Update Your Software

Keep the software used by your website up-to-date, as updates often include patches for known vulnerabilities.

Use Secure, Complex Passwords

Using complex, unique passwords can prevent hackers from easily gaining access to your site.

Regularly Monitor Your Website

Monitor your website for suspicious activity and perform regular checks for malicious content.

Reporting a DDoS Attack

If you suspect a DDoS attack, contact your hosting provider and internet service provider immediately.

Wrapping Up

DDoS attacks are a major cybersecurity threat, capable of inflicting severe damage to your website. Armed with knowledge about these attacks and how to prevent them, you can safeguard your website and ensure a safe online environment for your users.

Remember, regular updates, strong passwords, and a good WAF are your best defense against DDoS attacks.

Stay safe, and keep your website secure!