Understanding DDoS Attacks
Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks are executed through a network of computers, servers or Internet of Things (IoT) devices. A DDoS attack aims to disrupt the availability of a targeted service, server or network by overwhelming it with traffic or flooding it with requests. DDoS attacks have become more common and are often used to extort businesses, launch cyberattacks or to gain a competitive advantage.
Botnets are a network of infected computers, which are controlled by a hacker through remote access. Botnets can be used to launch DDoS attacks by sending a high volume of traffic to a targeted server, website or network. Botnets can be rented or purchased, and the cost depends on the number of infected computers and the duration of the attack.
Amplification attacks use vulnerable servers or devices to amplify the attack traffic. The attacker sends a small number of requests to a vulnerable server, and the server responds with a large amount of data, which is sent to the targeted server. This amplifies the attack traffic and can overwhelm the targeted server. DNS, NTP, and SSDP are commonly used protocols for amplification attacks.
Application layer attacks target the application layer of a server or network. These attacks are often more difficult to detect and mitigate as they mimic legitimate traffic. Application layer attacks can include HTTP floods, slowloris attacks, and SQL injection attacks.
Internet of Things (IoT) devices can be used to launch DDoS attacks, as they are often poorly secured and have limited processing power. Mirai is one of the most well-known IoT botnets, which was used to launch one of the largest DDoS attacks in history, targeting DNS provider Dyn in 2016.
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