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5 Types of DDoS Attacks to Defend Against in 2016

  • 5 Types of DDoS Attacks to Defend Against in 2016-

    Political

    Government and state-run websites have been a common target for protestors and activists looking to make a statement via cyber means. Most commonly associated with the likes of Anonymous and other hacker collectives, these attacks are a slightly more advanced/targeted version of the hit-and-run. There is no true end-game in terms of tangible payoff — these attacks tend to be symbolic in nature.

    By taking down government web assets, attackers cause headaches for officials looking to both save face and bring critical services back online. While there is little payoff for the hacktivists, the damage caused to operations and reputation is very real.

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5 Types of DDoS Attacks to Defend Against in 2016

  • 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
  • 5 Types of DDoS Attacks to Defend Against in 2016-3

    Political

    Government and state-run websites have been a common target for protestors and activists looking to make a statement via cyber means. Most commonly associated with the likes of Anonymous and other hacker collectives, these attacks are a slightly more advanced/targeted version of the hit-and-run. There is no true end-game in terms of tangible payoff — these attacks tend to be symbolic in nature.

    By taking down government web assets, attackers cause headaches for officials looking to both save face and bring critical services back online. While there is little payoff for the hacktivists, the damage caused to operations and reputation is very real.

Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks continue to be one of the most prevalent methods hackers use to disrupt businesses. Involving the use of multiple systems (personal computers, smartphones, etc.), DDoS attacks overload an organization's network by generating web traffic that can't be accommodated by the system's capacity limits.

Unlike with other forms of cyber attacks, DDoS attackers run the gamut in terms of their technical prowess. With DDoS services available for purchase online, even the least tech-savvy teenager with a credit card is capable of taking down company web assets for hours and even days.

Due to the diversity amongst those carrying out DDoS attacks, ranging from high-school kids to state-sponsored hackers, the purpose behind separate incidents can vary significantly. For example, while an experienced cyber criminal may use a DDoS attack for diversionary purposes, a disgruntled employee may carry out an attack just for the sake of causing chaos. In this slideshow, A10 Networks has mapped out some of the most common motives for these attacks and describes the tell-tale signs.