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LSDefine
Simple English definitions for legal terms
distributed denial-of-service attack
Read a random definition: Merchant Shipping Acts
A quick definition of distributed denial-of-service attack:
A distributed denial-of-service attack, also known as a DDoS attack, is a type of cyber attack that aims to make a website, computer, network, or server inaccessible by overwhelming it with traffic or causing it to malfunction. This is done by infecting multiple computers with a virus that causes them to all try to access the target at the same time. It's like having too many people trying to enter a small room at once, causing a traffic jam and preventing anyone from getting in or out.
A more thorough explanation:
A distributed denial-of-service attack, also known as a DDoS attack, is a type of cyber attack that aims to make a website or online service unavailable by overwhelming it with traffic from multiple sources.
For example, imagine a popular online store that receives thousands of visitors every day. A hacker could launch a DDoS attack by infecting a large number of computers with malware and using them to send a flood of requests to the online store's servers. This flood of traffic would make it impossible for legitimate users to access the site, causing it to crash or become extremely slow.
DDoS attacks can be very damaging to businesses and organizations that rely on their online presence to operate. They can result in lost revenue, damage to reputation, and even legal consequences.