What characterizes a DDoS attack?

A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack is characterized by overwhelming a target system, such as a website, server, or network, with a flood of traffic from multiple compromised sources. This surge in traffic can render the target unavailable to its intended users, effectively denying service. DDoS attacks are often executed using a network of infected devices, known as a botnet, which works together to send massive amounts of requests to the target.

This tactic exploits the limitations of network resources and can cause significant operational disruptions. The coordinated nature of a DDoS attack, with its reliance on multiple sources to generate traffic, differentiates it from simpler denial of service attacks, which may come from a single source. Understanding the characteristics of DDoS attacks helps organizations implement appropriate defensive measures and response strategies to protect their services from potential threats.