Definition:
A Denial of Service (DoS) attack is an attempt by an attacker to disrupt the normal functioning of a network, system, or service by overwhelming it with excessive traffic or resource requests, causing it to become unavailable.
Use Cases:
- Used by attackers to take down websites or online services by flooding them with traffic, making them inaccessible to legitimate users.
- Employed in competitive or retaliatory attacks to disrupt business operations.
Related Terms:
Questions and Answers:
- What is the difference between DoS and DDoS attacks?
A DoS attack is launched from a single source, while a DDoS attack involves multiple sources (often using botnets) to overwhelm the target.
- How can organizations protect against DoS attacks?
Organizations can protect against DoS attacks by using firewalls, traffic filtering, and rate-limiting techniques to control the flow of incoming traffic.
- What are the effects of a successful DoS attack?
A successful DoS attack can lead to downtime, loss of revenue, and damage to the target's reputation due to service unavailability.