Cybersecurity glossary
What is DDoS attack?
Also known as: distributed denial of service, DoS
Definition
A distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack overwhelms a website, server or network with traffic from many sources so that legitimate users cannot reach it.
Why it matters
Attacks target network bandwidth, server resources or expensive application functions such as search and login. CDNs, DDoS protection services, caching and rate limits absorb or filter most attacks against small sites.
Common questions about DDoS attack
See also
Sources
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