In today’s world where everything is online, the risk of harmful online threats is increasing. One such threat is called a Distributed Denial of Service attack (DDoS). This can cause big problems, like shutting down websites, online services, or whole networks. These problems can cost businesses and organizations lots of money and harm their reputation. In this easy-to-understand guide, we’ll learn more about these DDoS attacks: how they work, how to spot one, and most importantly, how to stop them from happening.
A DDoS attack is when someone deliberately tries to make a website or network crash by overwhelming it with a huge amount of internet traffic. The attacker wants to use up all the resources of the target so that regular people can’t access it anymore. In a DDoS attack, the person uses lots of different devices that have been taken over, called botnets, to send a constant stream of traffic to the target. This makes it really hard for the target to handle any real requests from normal users.
There is growing worry about DDoS attacks among businesses and organizations and there are several reasons for this. To start, the size and amount of these attacks have surged tremendously over the years. Now, those who initiate attacks can get help from powerful groups, known as botnets, that can generate a lot of internet traffic. The reasons behind these attacks have also changed. Some people might do it to make a point or to become famous, while others do it to make money. Hackers may threaten businesses with a DDoS attack unless they get paid a certain amount. Also, with the rise of services that help launch such attacks, known as stresser/booter services, it’s easier for anyone with bad intentions to carry out these attacks.
Types of DDoS Attacks
In order to effectively defend against DDoS attacks, it’s important to grasp the various kinds of attacks that can be launched. Here are a few common types of DDoS attacks:
TCP SYN Flood Attacks
A TCP SYN flood attack uses a process called the three-way handshake in the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). The attacker overwhelms the target by sending a large number of SYN requests, but doesn’t complete the handshake by sending the final ACK packet. This makes the target use up resources for incomplete connections, which eventually causes it to run out of capacity to handle real requests.
UDP Flood Attacks
UDP flood attacks target the User Datagram Protocol (UDP), which is used for connectionless communication. The attacker floods the target with a large number of UDP packets, overwhelming its ability to process and respond to legitimate requests.
ICMP Flood Attacks
ICMP flood attacks exploit the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) to flood the target with ICMP Echo Request (ping) packets. The target’s resources are consumed while trying to respond to these requests, leading to a denial of service for legitimate users.
HTTP Flood Attacks
HTTP flood attacks are a type of cyberattack that aim to disrupt web servers by bombarding them with a huge number of requests. These attacks are a real challenge to handle because they look a lot like normal user traffic, which makes it hard to tell which requests are harmful and which ones are genuine.
How DDoS Attacks Work
In order to protect against DDoS attacks, it’s important to know how they work and the methods attackers use.
A typical DDoS attack consists of three main stages: the reconnaissance phase, the attack phase, and the post-attack phase. In the reconnaissance phase, the attacker identifies potential targets and gathers information about their vulnerabilities. This may involve scanning for open ports, identifying weak points in the target’s infrastructure, and determining the best attack vectors to exploit.
After gathering information, the attacker moves on to the next stage: the attack itself. They utilize a botnet, made up of devices that have been compromised, to bombard the target with an incredibly large amount of internet traffic. This flood of traffic overwhelms the target’s systems, causing a disruption in the services it provides to genuine users.
In the post-attack phase, the attacker may analyze the effectiveness of the attack, fine-tune their techniques, and potentially launch subsequent attacks. They may also attempt to cover their tracks to evade detection and attribution.
The Backbone of DDoS Attacks – Botnets
Botnets are important in cyber attacks called DDoS attacks. These attacks involve networks of hacked devices, such as computers, servers, IoT devices, and even smartphones, which are controlled by the attacker. The hacked devices in the botnet, also known as bots or zombies, have malware that lets the attacker control them from a distance.
Botnets are usually created by taking advantage of weaknesses in software or devices, tricking users into downloading harmful software, or recruiting devices from existing botnets. Once a device is compromised and added to the botnet, it becomes a weapon for the attacker to use in DDoS attacks.
DDoS Attack Vectors: Understanding the Different Methods
DDoS attacks can be launched using various attack vectors, each targeting a specific weakness in the target’s infrastructure. Understanding these attack vectors is crucial for effective mitigation.
Some common DDoS attack vectors include:
- Volume-based attacks are attacks that aim to overpower the target’s internet capacity by using up all the network resources. For instance, UDP floods and ICMP floods are some examples of such attacks. These attacks basically flood the target’s network with excessive traffic, causing it to become overwhelmed and unable to function properly.
- Protocol attacks are a type of cyber attack that take advantage of weaknesses in network protocols, which are the rules that govern how devices communicate with each other. These attacks specifically target protocols like TCP and UDP to overwhelm and drain the resources of the intended victim. Some common examples of protocol attacks include TCP SYN floods and UDP floods.
- Application layer attacks are a type of cyber attack that specifically target the application layer of a network. Instead of trying to break into the entire network, these attacks aim to overwhelm and disrupt specific services or applications. One common example of an application layer attack is known as HTTP floods.
- Hybrid attacks: Hybrid attacks combine multiple attack vectors, leveraging their individual strengths to maximize the impact on the target. For example, an attacker may launch a volumetric attack to consume network bandwidth while simultaneously targeting specific applications using application layer attacks.
Recognizing the Signs of a DDoS Attack
Detecting a DDoS attack early is crucial to minimize its impact and implement effective mitigation strategies. Here are some signs that may indicate a DDoS attack is underway:
Unusual Network Traffic Patterns
DDoS attacks often generate a significant increase in network traffic. Monitoring network traffic patterns and keeping an eye out for sudden spikes in traffic can help identify a potential attack. Unusual traffic patterns may include a significant increase in incoming requests, a surge in outbound traffic to specific destinations, or a sudden surge in traffic from a particular geographic region.
Slow Network Performance
As a DDoS attack floods the target with traffic, the target’s resources become overwhelmed, leading to a degradation in network performance. Slow network speeds, increased latency, or frequent timeouts may indicate a DDoS attack is in progress.
Inability to Access Certain Websites or Services
If a website or online service becomes inaccessible or experiences intermittent availability issues, it may be a result of a DDoS attack. Users may encounter error messages, timeouts, or experience prolonged loading times when attempting to access the affected resources.
Steps to Mitigate a DDoS Attack
Protecting against a DDoS attack involves using multiple strategies together: improving the network infrastructure, implementing traffic filtering techniques, and making use of specialized services. Here are a few steps you can take to lessen the impact of a DDoS attack:
Implementing Network Segmentation
Network segmentation is a way of dividing a network into smaller parts, like rooms in a house. This makes it harder for attackers to break into the whole network at once. By putting important things, like electricity and water, in different rooms, we can make sure that if an attack happens in one room, it won’t affect everything else in the house.
Using Traffic Filtering Techniques
Traffic filtering techniques are methods used to examine incoming network traffic and remove harmful traffic related to a DDoS attack. This can be done with tools like firewalls, intrusion prevention systems (IPS), or specialized DDoS mitigation devices. These tools are able to detect and prevent traffic coming from known sources of attacks, which in turn lessens the damage caused by the attack.
Employing Rate Limiting and Traffic Shaping
Rate limiting and traffic shaping techniques are methods used to control the flow of data through a network or server. They work by setting limits on the amount of traffic that can be processed. This means that only a certain number of requests can be received at one time. Legitimate traffic, such as requests from real users, is given priority and allowed through. However, any excess traffic, like that from malicious attackers, is either dropped or slowed down. This is important because it helps to make sure that resources are used efficiently and minimizes the damage caused by a DDoS attack.
Utilizing Content Delivery Networks (CDNs)
Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) are useful tools in fighting against DDoS attacks. They work by spreading website content across many servers in different locations. So, when a DDoS attack happens, the CDN can take on a large portion of the attack traffic, so it doesn’t overwhelm the main server. CDNs can also stop DDoS attacks themselves, making them even more effective in protecting against these types of attacks.
Leveraging DDoS Protection Services
If your organization has important things on the internet that could be targeted by hackers, DDoS protection services can add another level of security. These services use fancy tools and technology to quickly detect and stop DDoS attacks. They’re especially helpful for organizations that don’t have a lot of money or expertise to handle these attacks on their own.
Best Practices to Prevent DDoS Attacks
While it may not be possible to completely get rid of the risk of DDoS attacks, following some best practices can greatly decrease the chances and impact of an attack. Here are some recommended steps to take for preventing DDoS attacks:
- Make sure to regularly update and apply patches to your software, operating systems, and network devices. This will help safeguard against known vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit.
- Enhance Your Network Security: By setting up special barriers, monitoring systems, and protective restrictions, you can safeguard your network against unwelcome intrusions and potential overwhelming cyber-attacks.
- Performing regular network audits and assessments is crucial to keep your system secure. By carrying out these evaluations, you can pinpoint any potential vulnerabilities or weaknesses that attackers may exploit. Engaging in tests such as penetration testing and vulnerability assessments can play a significant role in identifying and fixing any issues before they become exploitable.
- Educate Employees on DDoS Attack Prevention: Train employees on the risks and impacts of DDoS attacks and educate them on best practices for safe internet use. This includes recognizing suspicious emails, avoiding clicking on unknown links, and being cautious when downloading files or accessing unfamiliar websites.
Real-Life Examples of DDoS Attacks and Their Impacts
To highlight the severity and potential consequences of DDoS attacks, let’s examine a few real-life examples.
The Dyn DNS Attack
In October 2016, a major cyber attack happened, targeting a company called Dyn, which helps with the functioning of the internet. This attack caused a lot of problems because it made it difficult for people to get to popular websites such as Twitter, Netflix, and Spotify. The attack used a network of Internet-connected devices, like smart home gadgets, to overload and disrupt the systems. This showed how the internet infrastructure can be at risk from big-scale attacks like this one.
The GitHub DDoS Attack
In February 2018, GitHub, a widely used platform for hosting code, experienced a major cyber attack. This attack, known as a DDoS attack, caused a huge surge in internet traffic, reaching a peak of 1.35 terabits per second. As a result, access to GitHub’s services was briefly disrupted. The attacker focused on a particular user of GitHub and took advantage of a vulnerability in the memcached protocol. This allowed the attack traffic to be reflected and amplified, making it even more damaging.
The Spamhaus DDoS Attack
In March 2013, Spamhaus, an international non-profit organization that tracks spam and cyber threats, was targeted by one of the largest DDoS attacks in history. The attack, which reached a peak traffic volume of 300 gigabits per second, caused significant disruptions to internet services worldwide. The attack targeted Spamhaus’s DNS servers, aiming to overwhelm them and render them inaccessible.
Legal and Ethical Implications of DDoS Attacks
People often argue about whether it’s right or legal to carry out DDoS attacks – a type of cyber attack. In many places, these attacks are against the law, but some people think they’re a way of protesting or standing up for what’s right. Others say they’re simply a crime, causing damage and disruption.
Also, there’s ongoing conversation about what role the companies that provide internet service (ISPs) should play. These companies are key in spotting and stopping these cyber attacks, and helping catch the people behind them. The police and other law enforcement also need to work to find and punish those carrying out these attacks.
Conclusion
DDoS attacks can be very harmful to businesses, organizations, and the internet as a whole. It is important to know how these attacks happen, be able to recognize when they are occurring, and have a plan in place to stop them. By staying informed, following good practices, and using the right tools and services, organizations can lessen the damage caused by DDoS attacks and make sure their online assets are always available and reliable. It’s crucial to be proactive and prepared for DDoS attacks in today’s digital world, where the risk of cyber threats keeps growing.