A DDoS attack, or distributed denial of service attack, is one of the most common and disruptive forms of cyberattacks. Its goal is simple: to overload a website, server, or network to the point where it becomes inaccessible to regular users.
We dive deep into the technical and practical aspects of DDoS without making it unnecessarily complicated.
A DDoS attack (distributed denial of service) is designed to temporarily or permanently disrupt an online service. This is done by sending a massive number of requests to a server or network, overloading it so that it stops responding to legitimate users.
Unlike a DoS (denial of service) attack, which comes from a single source, a DDoS attack is launched from hundreds or even thousands of devices simultaneously. These devices form what's called a botnet: a network of infected computers, routers, or IoT devices that are controlled remotely by an attacker.
Building a botnet
The attacker infects devices with malware, often without the users noticing. These "zombie machines" are then remotely activated to send traffic to the targeted system.
Sending massive amounts of traffic
The botnet is used to flood the target with millions of data requests per second. These can be simple ping requests or more complex requests like HTTPS traffic.
Overloading the system
The server, firewall, or application infrastructure can’t handle the volume and becomes overwhelmed. This results in slowdowns, errors, or downtime.
DDoS attacks are more than just an annoyance, they can cause serious financial losses and damage to reputation. Especially for webshops or critical online services, the impact can be significant.
A DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack can manifest in different ways. Sometimes it's obvious—a website goes completely offline. But often it starts more subtly, with small slowdowns or error messages that gradually get worse.
Slow or unresponsive websites
Pages load slowly or display errors like “502 Bad Gateway” or “Service Unavailable.”
Inaccessible email or apps
Services such as webmail, client portals, or mobile apps stop responding or shut down unexpectedly.
Spikes in bandwidth or CPU usage
Monitoring tools show unusually high traffic or server load without a clear reason.
Increased requests from suspicious IP ranges
Logs reveal thousands of simultaneous requests from unknown or foreign sources.
The consequences of a DDoS attack can be serious, especially for businesses that rely heavily on online availability. Common impacts include:
Revenue loss
An e-commerce store that’s down for hours can miss out on direct sales.
Reputational damage
Customers or users lose trust when a service is unavailable or unstable.
Additional costs
Recovery efforts, added security, and lost productivity require time and resources.
Potential distraction for other attacks
Sometimes a DDoS is used as a smokescreen while attackers try to breach databases or user accounts.
Recognizing the symptoms early can help you respond faster and minimize damage.
DDoS attacks come in different forms, each with its technique and impact. Broadly speaking, they fall into three main categories: volumetric attacks, protocol attacks, and application layer attacks. In addition, there are specific tools and methods that are commonly used.
Volumetric attacks focus on consuming available bandwidth. The goal is to send as much traffic as possible to the target so that the internet connection becomes overwhelmed.
ICMP flood:
A flood of ICMP echo requests (pings) overwhelms the server. Each ping requires a response, which drains resources quickly.
UDP flood:
Random UDP packets are sent to various ports on the target, forcing it to spend time checking for applications that aren’t listening.
DNS amplification:
Small DNS requests are sent to open resolvers with a spoofed IP address. The replies are much larger than the original request, amplifying the total data sent to the victim.
These attacks target weaknesses in network protocols like TCP or IP.
SYN flood:
Abuses the TCP handshake process by sending many SYN requests without completing the connection. Server resources get tied up and eventually max out.
Teardrop attack:
Sends malformed IP packets that exploit how systems reassemble fragmented data, causing them to crash or become unstable.
Application layer attacks
These are more subtle and target specific websites or apps.
HTTP flood:
Large numbers of seemingly legitimate HTTP requests are sent to a server, exhausting its ability to respond. Difficult to distinguish from real traffic.
Slowloris:
Keeps many connections open by sending incomplete HTTP requests, slowly. The server ends up dedicating resources to connections that never complete.
In extreme cases, attackers aim to cause lasting damage to hardware or software. Examples include firmware corruption or forcing devices into unsafe configurations.
Attackers often use specific tools or services to carry out DDoS attacks:
LOIC (Low Orbit Ion Cannon):
A widely known open-source tool used in basic attacks. Easy to use but powerful in numbers.
Booters and stresser services:
Online platforms that offer DDoS attacks as a paid service. Often used to target gaming servers, e-commerce sites, or competitors.
A DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack is difficult to prevent entirely, but there’s a lot you can do to defend your systems and minimize the impact. By combining technical measures, monitoring, and preparation, you can make your infrastructure more resilient.
Use a firewall or web application firewall (WAF)
These can filter and block malicious traffic early, before it even reaches your server.
Rate limiting and throttling
This restricts the number of requests a user can make in a given time. It helps prevent a single source from overloading your system.
Load balancing
Spreads traffic across multiple servers to reduce the pressure on each individual server, increasing the chances your service stays online.
There are specialized services focused on detecting and mitigating DDoS attacks. Well-known providers include:
Cloudflare
Offers automatic protection and filtering against all kinds of attacks, including volumetric and application-layer attacks.
Akamai
Operates a global network and protects large organizations from large-scale DDoS threats.
AWS Shield / Azure DDoS Protection
If you operate in the cloud, major cloud providers offer their own DDoS mitigation as part of their infrastructure.
Use monitoring tools like Datadog, Zabbix, or Prometheus to track traffic, server load, and errors continuously.
Set up alerts for suspicious spikes, timeouts, or CPU usage.
Create an incident response plan so your team knows what to do during an attack: who to contact, what steps to take, and how to communicate.
If you're under attack, these immediate steps can help mitigate damage:
Identify the type of attack (volumetric, protocol, or application layer)
Temporarily scale up your infrastructure to handle the load
Activate any DDoS protection mechanisms you have in place
Notify your hosting provider or cloud platform, they often have additional tools to support you
Communicate transparently with users or customers, it helps maintain trust during outages
DDoS protection isn’t a one-time setup. It’s an ongoing process of monitoring, adjusting, and improving.
DDoS attacks have become increasingly advanced, accessible, and dangerous recently. Where they used to focus primarily on taking a website offline, today's attacks often serve broader strategic purposes. Businesses now face attacks designed not just to overwhelm infrastructure, but also to distract, extort, or damage reputations.
One of the most notable trends is the rise of DDoS-for-hire platforms. These services make it easy for virtually anyone to launch an attack, no technical knowledge required.
DDoS-for-hire: easy access for attackers
Booter and stresser websites allow users to initiate attacks for just a few euros. A simple interface lets them choose a target and duration, making DDoS attacks widely accessible even to non-technical users.
Anonymous and paid with crypto
These services often accept cryptocurrency, making it harder to trace the buyer. The attacks themselves are usually carried out using existing botnets, and some platforms even provide dashboards to monitor impact in real time.
As technology evolves, so do the vulnerabilities that attackers exploit. One of the most exploited weak spots today is the Internet of Things (IoT).
IoT as a weak link
Smart devices such as cameras, printers, and routers are typically poorly secured out of the box. With outdated firmware or default passwords, they’re easy to compromise and recruit into botnets.
Multi-vector attacks
Modern DDoS attacks rarely rely on a single method. Instead, attackers combine different types — like volumetric floods and HTTP requests — to bypass firewalls and delay detection, making mitigation much harder.
Not every DDoS attack is financially motivated. The reasons vary depending on the attacker and the target.
Competition: Some companies target each other to cause disruptions and gain an advantage.
Hacktivism: Political or ideological groups may attack organizations they oppose.
Diversion: A DDoS attack may be used as a smokescreen while more serious breaches, like data theft, happen elsewhere in the system.
Modern DDoS threats are no longer just technical challenges, they are strategic risks that require ongoing awareness and proactive cybersecurity planning.
DDoS attacks remain a serious threat for any organization with an online presence. Whether it's a temporary disruption or a targeted effort to cause damage, the impact is often greater than expected. Solid defense starts with understanding how these attacks work, recognizing the signs, and taking the right precautions.
Complete protection is difficult in practice, even large platforms can be affected. But with proper preparation, you can minimize damage and recover more quickly when it happens.
Whether you're a developer managing infrastructure, a business owner running an online store, or an IT professional looking to reduce risks, it's essential to be ready for what might come.
Or get in touch with us if you're looking for experienced developers who can help build scalable, secure, and future-ready software solutions.
DDoS stands for Distributed Denial of Service. It is a type of cyber attack in which multiple devices simultaneously overload a server or network, with the goal of making it inaccessible.
Yes, carrying out a DDoS attack is punishable in many countries, including the Netherlands. Even hiring an attack through a booter service can lead to prosecution.
In a DoS attack, the traffic comes from one source, whereas in a DDoS attack, thousands of sources are used. DDoS is therefore harder to block and often much more powerful.
A DDoS attack can range from a few minutes to several days, depending on the attacker's goal and how quickly action is taken.
As a backend-focused software engineering consultant, I am dedicated to building robust, efficient, and scalable systems that power exceptional user experiences. I take pride in creating solid backend architectures, ensuring seamless integrations, and optimizing performance to meet the highest standards of reliability, functionality, and scalability.
