A distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack is a type of cyber attack that aims to disrupt the normal functioning of a website or online service by overwhelming it with traffic from multiple sources. The goal of a DDoS attack is to make a website or service unavailable to its intended users, often by overwhelming it with more traffic than the server or network can accommodate.
DDoS attacks are typically launched by a group of compromised computers, which are often referred to as a "botnet." The computers in a botnet are often infected with malware that allows them to be controlled remotely by the attackers. When a DDoS attack is launched, the attackers send commands to the computers in the botnet, directing them to send a large volume of traffic to the target website or service. This traffic can come in the form of HTTP requests, fake traffic, or other types of requests that the website or service is not equipped to handle.
One of the key characteristics of a DDoS attack is that it is distributed, meaning that it originates from multiple sources. This makes it difficult to trace the attack back to a single source, and it also makes it more difficult for the target website or service to defend against the attack.
DDoS attacks are often used as a tool for cybercriminals to extort money from organizations. They may threaten to launch a DDoS attack against a company's website unLESS the company pays a ransom. DDoS attacks can also be used to disrupt the operations of a competitor, or as a form of political activism.