November 10, 2023

What is DDoS: How Hackers Attack Websites Online and Why You Need to Be Prepared

In this article, we discuss a real threat that adversaries can use to harm your business, especially if it relies on online sales or attracting new clients online.

Many naïvely believe that DDoS is something out of modern cyberpunk novels. This view is mistaken, as it's actually a dangerous tool employed by cybercriminals. It can inflict real damage on any business oriented towards online sales or garnering new online clientele.

DDoS refers to the process wherein malefactors effectively flood a specific website with a barrage of unnecessary requests using a botnet, making it inaccessible to genuine clients. This is often commissioned by unscrupulous competitors or to extort money in exchange for halting the attack.

A botnet is essentially an army of zombie computers. Hackers can essentially command them to simultaneously send requests to a specific website, crippling its normal operations. This encapsulates the primary principle behind DDoS attacks, which are increasingly common on the modern internet.

Some attacks inundate a site with massive traffic. Others may overload the server by sending complex requests. While you're trying to manage the deluge of fake requests, hackers might also attempt to steal valuable information from the site or server, like confidential client data.

A large-scale DDoS attack can cost a business significantly, so it's crucial to prepare in advance.

As long as a popular site used for sales or customer acquisition is down, the business loses money. Plus, it adversely impacts the company's reputation. However, the worst scenarios arise when, due to a DDoS attack, client data falls into the hands of wrongdoers.

Website owners can't just shut off a DDoS attack. However, there are tools, methods, and protective mechanisms that can aid them in countering such an assault. These include specialized networks for traffic distribution and unique systems that effectively filter suspicious requests.

DDoS is a significant headache for IT specialists assisting businesses through digital transformation. Only the most experienced developers can devise an adept protection system against such attacks and implement it in practice—often, several developers work on this simultaneously.

If you want your website to always function smoothly, it's not advisable to turn to lone self-taught developers. They are unlikely to adequately address DDoS attack protection and other cyber threats. To avoid losing money and time, it's essential to approach this with utmost responsibility.

We take security very seriously when building software to ensure that your products are fully protected

Author

Nick Griс

Tags

Cybersecurity

Our Latest Thoughts on Technology

trends
Message Us

Let's Get Started with Focus21

Our company is a space where ideas flourish and transform into reality.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Please input your email to submit the form.