DDoS
Technology & Computing abbreviation · Cybersecurity
| Stands for | Distributed denial of service |
|---|---|
| Categories | Technology & Computing |
DDoS stands for Distributed denial of service, a cybersecurity abbreviation.
An attack that overwhelms a website, server or network with traffic from many compromised machines at once, often a botnet of hijacked computers and IoT devices, so legitimate users cannot get through. Attacks are measured in bits, packets or requests per second.
Example: The game's login servers went down for three hours during a DDoS attack on launch day.
Usage notes
The Mirai botnet of 2016, built from hacked cameras and routers, knocked major sites offline by attacking the DNS provider Dyn. Record attacks have since exceeded several terabits per second. Defenses include CDNs and scrubbing services that absorb traffic, rate limiting and anycast networks. Launching attacks, including through paid "booter" services, is a crime in most countries. Pronounced "dee-doss".
Related abbreviations
More cybersecurity abbreviations
- CTF – Capture the flag
- CVE – Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures
- CVSS – Common Vulnerability Scoring System
- CWE – Common Weakness Enumeration
- DAC – Discretionary access control
- DAST – Dynamic application security testing
- DES – Data Encryption Standard
- DevSecOps – Development, security and operations
- DFIR – Digital forensics and incident response
- DH – Diffie-Hellman (key exchange)
- DKIM – DomainKeys Identified Mail
- DLP – Data loss prevention