In a distributed denial-of-service attack (DDoS attack), the incoming traffic flooding the victim originates from many different sources. More sophisticated strategies are required to mitigate this type of attack, as simply attempting to block a single source is insufficient because there are multiple sources.
Gamers often use this tactic to slow down their competition’s internet speed. However, hackers frequently use it to gain unauthorized network access. It’s much easier for hackers to steal personal information like your bank statements or saved passwords once inside.
According to Cisco’s Annual Internet Report (2018-2023), DDoS attacks will likely double from 7.9 million in 2018 to roughly 15.4 million by 2023 worldwide. It’s another strong indicator of the need for cybersecurity and user education. The first line of defense against a DDoS attack is to secure your network with a strong, multi-character password that’s not easy to guess. Password managers are a great tool to handle this for you.