A distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack is a cyber attack that involves flooding a website or server with so much traffic that it becomes unavailable to users. The goal of a DDoS attack is to disrupt the website or server’s normal operation and therefore make it unavailable to its intended users.
How do DDoS attacks work?
DDoS attacks are typically carried out by a group of computers, known as a botnet, that are infected with malware. The malware instructs the computers to send a large number of requests to the target website or server. This flood of requests can overwhelm your website or server’s resources, making it unable to respond to legitimate requests.
Types of DDoS attacks:
There are two main types of DDoS attacks: volumetric and application-layer attacks.
- Volumetric DDoS attacks involve flooding the target website or server with a large amount of traffic. This traffic can be sent from a single computer or from a botnet. Volumetric DDoS attacks are the most common type of DDoS attack.
- Application-layer DDoS attacks target the application layer of the target website or server. This layer is responsible for processing user requests. Application-layer DDoS attacks are more difficult to defend against than volumetric DDoS attacks.
Impacts of DDoS attacks:
DDoS attacks can have a significant impact on businesses and organizations. We already discussed cyber attacks and the impacts on businesses more generally here. Some of the impacts of DDoS attacks include:
- Financial losses: DDoS attacks can lead to financial losses for businesses and organizations. This is because the attacks can disrupt operations, leading to lost sales and revenue.
- Reputational damage: DDoS attacks can damage the reputation of businesses and organizations. This is because the attacks can make websites and servers unavailable to users, which can lead to customer dissatisfaction and lost trust.
- Legal liability: Businesses and organizations that are the victims of DDoS attacks may be held legally liable for the damages caused by the attacks. This is because businesses and organizations are required to take reasonable steps to protect their websites and servers from attack.
Vulnerabilities that can lead to DDoS attacks:
There are a number of vulnerabilities that can lead to DDoS attacks. Some of these vulnerabilities include:
- Unpatched software: Unpatched software can contain vulnerabilities that can be exploited by attackers to launch DDoS attacks. This can cost your business big money.
- Weak passwords: Weak passwords can be easily guessed by attackers, which can allow them to gain access to systems that can be used to launch DDoS attacks.
- Outdated security systems: Outdated security systems may not be able to protect against the latest DDoS attack methods.
- Lack of security awareness: Employees who are not aware of the risks of DDoS attacks may be more likely to click on malicious links or open infected attachments, which can lead to the infection of systems with malware that can be used to launch DDoS attacks.
Ways to mitigate DDoS attacks:
There are a number of ways you can mitigate DDoS attacks. Some of these ways include:
- Keep your software up to date. Software updates often include security patches that can help to protect your systems from known vulnerabilities. Therefore, continuously make sure to keep your web site and its plugins always up to date!
- Use strong passwords and security questions. Make sure your passwords are strong and unique, and that you use different passwords for different accounts. We made a YouTube shorts video on this topic here. You should also use security questions to add an extra layer of protection to your account.
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). 2FA adds an extra layer of security to your account by requiring you to enter a code from your phone in addition to your password when logging in.
- Use a web application firewall (WAF). By using a WAF, you will help to protect your web site from common attack vectors, such as SQL injection and XSS.
- Back up your web site regularly. If your web site is hacked, you can restore it from a backup to minimize the damage. Thus, make sure your hosting service provides you with a high quality backup and restore system.
- Educate your employees about DDoS attacks. Make sure your employees are aware of the risks of DDoS attacks and know how to protect themselves from them. Train your employees on cyber security basics regularly!
By taking these steps, you can help to protect your website and systems from DDoS attacks.
Conclusion
A distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks pose a serious threat to your business or organization. By taking steps to mitigate these attacks, you can help to protect your website and systems from harm.
