Simple English definitions for legal terms
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A DoS attack is when someone tries to make a computer, website, or network stop working by sending too much information or making it malfunction. This can be done by one person or by many people using infected computers. It's like trying to fill up a cup with too much water so it spills over and can't hold any more.
Definition: A DoS attack, also known as a denial-of-service attack, is a malicious act that targets a computer, website, network, server, or database with the intention of making it inaccessible. This is usually done by overwhelming the system with activity or by forcing it to malfunction. It is also known as nuking. A distributed denial-of-service attack (DDoS attack) is carried out by distributing a virus that causes infected computers to try to access the target computer at the same time.
Examples:
These examples illustrate how a DoS attack can render a system inaccessible by overwhelming it with activity or causing it to malfunction. In the first example, the website is targeted directly, while in the second example, the attack is distributed across multiple infected computers.