Internet denial-of-service attacks launched simultaneously from multiple locations are called distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, their goal is to deny access to other users, which is a popular attack method in the cyberspace.
The aim of DDoS attack is to overload the victim and render it incapable of performing normal communications or transactions.
In January 2001, web servers hosting MSN, Hotmail, Expedia and other popular Microsoft services were subjected to an DDoS attack for almost 24 hours. In July 2001, EFNet.org, a worldwide provider of Internet Relay Chat services was subjected to a sustained DDoS attack lasting almost ten days.
Distributed denial of service attacks often use zombies on computers that have been backdoored by worms or Trojans – without the consent or knowledge of their users.
In a distributed denial of service attack, the attacker remotely takes control of a ‘master’ server where the DoS code has been installed. The master server then controls the actions of ‘slave servers’ on which the code has also been installed with or without the knowledge of the owner. When instructed, these slaves flood target with traffic.
Distributed denial of service attack
