DDOS (Distributed Denial of Service)
What is DDOS?
DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) is a type of cyber attack that attempts to overwhelm a website or network with a flood of traffic or requests, this then makes it unavailable to users.
The origin of DDOS dates back to the early 2000s when hackers started using multiple computers to attack single websites. Since then, DDOS attacks have evolved significantly, becoming more sophisticated and difficult to detect. They’re now commonly used by cybercriminals to disrupt services in exchange for a ‘ransom,’ or simply just to extort money from a business.
What happens during a DDOS attack?
The following steps break down the sequence of events that define a DDOS attack.
Multiple computers or devices are used to target a single website or server.
The attack overwhelms the target with traffic, making it unavailable to legitimate users.
DDOS attacks can be launched from anywhere in the world, making them difficult to trace.
Cybercriminals often demand ransom payments to stop the attack.
Examples of significant DDOS attacks
Real-life examples or scenarios where DDOS has been used against large corporations and brands”
In 2020, a group of hackers launched a DDOS attack on the New Zealand Stock Exchange, causing it to shut down for several days. The attackers demanded a ransom payment to stop the attack.
February 2020, Amazon AWS suffered one of the largest DDOS attacks to ever yet hit a business.
According to recent research DDOS attacks are not only happening more frequently but are lasting longer - up from minutes to days. This then has a significant impact on business operations.
How to reduce the risk of DDOS attacks on your website
There are a number of things you can do to protect your site from DDOS attacks. These include:
Regularly conduct vulnerability scans and penetration testing to identify potential weaknesses in the website's infrastructure.
Implement firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and other security measures to prevent and mitigate attacks.
Use cloud-based communications solutions to ensure that critical services remain available even during a DDOS attack. This is where cloud hosting comes into its own.
Develop an incident response plan that outlines how the organization will respond to a DDOS attack, including who is responsible for what tasks and how communication will be handled.
When making a website, consider opting for a website builder with robust in-built website security infrastructure which will ensure your site is always safe.
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Potential impact of a DDOS attack
DDOS attacks can be financially devastating for companies and lead to a loss of brand trust and reliability. This can then impact customer retention rates. Some of the major ways in which these kind of attacks can affect a business, and its cybersecurity, include,
Cost to fix
DDOS attacks can be expensive to stop and fix, particularly for small businesses that may not have the resources to implement robust security measures.
Loss of brand trust
DDOS attacks can cause damage to a business' reputation, particularly if they result in extended periods of website downtime.
DDOS FAQ
Why are DDOS attacks so impactful?
These kind of cyber attacks can be so detrimental to a business because they cause website downtime, sometimes for prolonged periods of time. This can lead to loss in brand trust and revenue loss. They're also often used to extort money from businesses in order to restore a website.