If the internet was a highway, a DDoS attack is a traffic jam caused on purpose. 😩🛑
Imagine this - You’re trying to get to your favourite website. But instead of loading normally, it’s stuck, sluggish, or down completely. It’s not your Wi-Fi. It’s not your laptop. It might just be a DDoS attack.
What is a DDoS Attack?
DDoS stands for Distributed Denial of Service. That’s a fancy way of saying: someone floods a server or network with so much traffic that it crashes—or becomes too slow to use.
But it’s not just one computer doing this. A DDoS attack uses multiple systems—often thousands of hijacked devices (called a botnet)—to overwhelm a target all at once.
The goal?
Disrupt. Delay. Take something offline. And sometimes, cause chaos while demanding a ransom.
How Does a DDoS Attack Work?
Imagine you're running a coffee shop, and one morning 10,000 people walk in—but none of them want coffee. They just take up all the seats, block the counters, and stand in line endlessly.
Your real customers can’t get through. The rush hour is stopping your coffee shop from functioning. That’s how a DDoS attack works.
When launching an Attack, hackers usually:
- Websites
- Servers
- Apps
- APIs
The sudden surge of fake traffic overwhelms the target, leaving it unusable for actual users.
Common Motivations Behind These Attacks:
- Hacktivism: To protest or make a political statement.
- Competition: One business targeting another.
- Revenge or trolling: Just to disrupt or annoy.
- Extortion: “Pay us or we’ll keep your site offline”
- As a distraction: While another cyberattack is happening in the background.
Signs You’re Facing a DDoS Attack
If your website or app is showing these signs, it's likely that you're undergoing a DDoS attack:
- Your website slows down drastically or crashes.
- You see a sudden spike in traffic from unusual locations.
- Users can’t access services they normally use. Your servers or network are working overtime for no good reason.
Can You Stop a DDoS Attack?
Unfortunately, you can’t stop people from launching DDoS attacks. However, you can prepare for them by:
- Using a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to spread out traffic.
- Set up rate limiting to control traffic spikes.
- Partner with a Managed Service Provider.
- Have a response plan so your team isn’t scrambling in real time.
Are DDoS Attacks Common?
Short Answer?
Yes.
DDoS attacks have been around for decades, and they’re only getting more sophisticated. Major companies, banks, schools, and even governments have been targeted.
But you don’t have to be a billion-dollar brand to be a target—small businesses and startups get hit too, especially if their defenses are weak.
So, what's the best way to prevent a DDoS Attack?
Expect it. Plan for it. And don’t wait for the flood before you build the dam.