All you need to know about a DDoS Attack!

DDoS stands for Distributed Denial of Service and is a form of cyberattack conducted on target websites or systems. This kind of cyberattack can cause serious problems to the websites and in turn the company. It is, therefore, very important to have proper knowledge of DDoS attack and what damage it is capable of bringing.?

DoS attacks or Denial of Service attacks are neither new nor uncommon. However, the difference between a DDoS attack and a DoS attack is that the latter inflicts harm on a single website or one specific server with the intention of hampering the activities but the former affects multiple such websites and their servers. A DDoS attack can incur a financial loss on the company, alter crucial data systems and keep away genuine users by hampering their usage of the website. Normally, a DDoS attack is identifiable due to the magnitude of websites and devices it attacks at one go.?

Apart from hindering the work and flow on the websites that it targets, a DDoS attack can also be used to conduct spiteful and hostile activities such as cyber vandals and extortions. While the DDoS attack denies service and that might seem to be the main issue, the assaulters can work on some other, the more dangerous plan under its curb. That is the reason why a DDoS cyber-attack should never be taken at face value. Such activities can not only lead to loss of crucial data and the collapse of the whole system but can cause serious damage to the reputation of the company and meddle with customer trust and satisfaction.??

How does a DDoS attack work??

The first step that an attacker takes after they have decided on the target website is to research to lay the groundwork. The main focus at this level is on the various weak points that the website and the server has. This is called the discovery phase. In fact, at this very basic level itself, the attacker can launch a lighter form of a DDoS attack to freeze the website and remove access for other authentic users to extract information.?

The next step is when the assaulter needs to finalize a tool to conduct the DDoS attack. There are two possibilities in this case. One, they can purchase on the dark web. Several tools and systems are already present on the platform which are efficient in exploiting and implementing the plan into action. The second option is worse. The attacker can come up with a system and a tool of their own. Although the exploits are simple, they can wreak havoc when the attacker uses them across various devices at the same time. Another important element in DDoS attacks is the “zombie network”.?

Also known as botnets, these networks are essential for the discharge of the malware and carry through the attack. Business PCs, consumer devices, as well as internet of things devices such as smart TVs, smartwatches, and medical sensors can be conscripted into these botnets with the help of different malware. Therefore, it is not hard to deduce the extent of chaos that a DDoS can cause. Generally, such attacks start with a small network such as a set of devices in a particular department. But they have the potential to attack thousands of websites and servers distributed around the globe in a short period.

Types of DDoS attacks?

DDoS attacks have unfortunately become a common occurrence in recent years and there is such a thing called an accidental attack. Popularly known as the “Reddit hug of death”, a chunk of genuine users can overcrowd popular websites and this can cause an overwhelming response from the website’s server and hamper proper and smooth functioning.?

There can be two types of DDoS attacks based on the level of attack - Network level and Application level.??

1. Network Level DDoS attacks - SYN flood, UDP Flood, DNS amplification, NTP amplification are all examples of network-level attacks. The main aim of this sort of cyberattack is to block the connections between the networks which are often referred to as the “pipelines” of the system. These DDoS attacks are on the third or fourth level.?
2. Application Level DDoS attacks - In this kind of attack, a humongous quantity of requests is sent to the servers with the intent to overload it and crash it. Additionally, the requests are often very complicated and need a lot of effort for processing. HTTP floods and DNS Query flood attacks are the most common types of application-level attacks.???

What can be the outcome of a DDoS attack??

DDoS attacks can be very harmful to any website and company. Let us look at some of the surface level damage that it can cause -?

1. Financial Loss - The breaking down of websites and servers translates into a loss of time and productivity which inevitably incur an economic loss. There can also be blackmail and threats that can lead to extortion.?
2. Reputation at risk - There can be several repercussions of a website crash. It causes inconvenience to the customers and is therefore bad for the reputation.?
3. Loss of data - A DDoS attack can result in massive data theft. As we all know, data is a crucial backbone for any company and its loss can sometimes be irreparable.?

Why do DDoS attacks take place??

There are several reasons why such cyberattacks take place at all. Some of the most common motives include -?

1. Competition in Business - Websites and servers are essential for all kinds of businesses nowadays and therefore, an attack on them can be expected if a crucial competitor exists. Due to these attacks, customers can face accessing the website and therefore divert to the competitor brand.?
2. Extortion - As the name suggests, extortion has been one of the topmost reasons for such attacks. The attacker demands money in exchange for a solution to the hamper the DDoS attack causes.?
3. Cyber Warfare - Many governments across the globe, especially the superpowers have resorted to DDoS attacks during crucial political times to repress the critical voices of the public. There are several other ways in which people in positions of power use these attacks for their benefit.??

Conclusion?

DDoS can be real trouble. The best way to avoid them is to keep a continuous check on the IP addresses and be cautious of any unwarranted change in the system. Alternatively, there are several firewalls available that can help shield the websites. DDoS mitigation is possible but requires extensive stratification.?