Distributed Denial Of Service (DDoS) Attack

What is a distributed denial of service attack

Ah, the infamous Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack, the cyber menace that strikes fear into the hearts of network administrators and internet users alike. Just like a Denial of Service (DoS) attack your connection slows to a crawl, your website won’t load, and you’re left scratching your head in frustration. But what is different are the things called zombies or botnet, let us dig a little deeper.

So, what exactly is a DDoS attack? Stop and think about this, imagine trying to fit a thousand people through a single door all at once, the result, chaos! The door (or in this case, the target’s network) gets jammed tighter than a can of sardines.

But unlike a traditional DoS attack, where a single attacker bombards a target with traffic from a single source, a DDoS attack enlists the help of a zombie army of compromised computers, known as a Robot Network, AKA botnet. These infected machines, under the command of the cyber puppet master, unleash a coordinated assault on the target, making it nearly impossible to fend off the onslaught.

Zombie Botnet

The zombie DDoS army, picture this: a legion of infected computers, lurking in the shadows of cyberspace, waiting for their nefarious puppet master’s command to unleash havoc upon unsuspecting targets. Welcome to the world of Robot Networks, where compromised machines become mindless minions in the hands of cybercriminals.

But what exactly is a zombie DDoS army? Well, let me break it down for you. Imagine your computer – your trusty companion in the digital realm, faithfully carrying out your commands and keeping your dog videos safe and sound. Now, imagine that same computer falling under the spell of a malicious software known as malware. This malware, like a digital parasite, infects your computer without you even knowing it, turning it into a zombie, or bot.

Now, multiply that scenario by thousands, or even millions, of infected computers around the globe, all under the control of a single or group of cybercriminals. That’s a botnet – a vast network of zombie computers, ready and waiting to do their master’s bidding. This sprawling network of infected machines forms the backbone of a botnet, a powerful tool wielded by cybercriminals to carry out their nefarious deeds.

So, what does this have to do with DDoS attacks? Well, imagine each zombie computer in the botnet as a soldier in an army, and the cybercriminal as the general giving orders from afar. When the general commands the army to attack a target with a DDoS onslaught, each zombie computer where ever they are on the planet, obediently follows orders, bombarding the target with a barrage of traffic, overwhelming its defences and bringing it to a halt.

The scary part? Most of the time, the owners of these infected computers have no idea that their machines are being used for cyber warfare. They may notice their computers running slower than usual or behaving strangely, but they’re often unaware of the malicious activity happening behind the scenes.

Zombie Botnets are the sinister armies of the digital underworld, they are a cybercriminal’s best friend.

The final kick in the teeth is how to find the puppet master, which machine are they hiding behind?

Types of DDoS attacks

In addition to volume-based attacks that you see in DoS there are also protocol and application layer attacks let us look at each in turn.

Volume-Based Attacks

These flood the target network with a high volume of traffic, such as UDP flood attacks, ICMP flood attacks, or SYN flood attacks.

Imagine you’re throwing a party at your house, and suddenly, thousands of uninvited guests show up. They’re all crammed into your living room, kitchen, and even the bathroom! The sheer number of people makes it impossible for your real friends to enjoy the party. That’s what a volume-based attack is like – cyber attackers flood your network with so much fake traffic that the system gets overwhelmed and can’t function properly.

Protocol Attacks

These exploit weaknesses in protocols to overwhelm the target, such as Ping of Death or Smurf attacks.

Now, picture this: at your party, there’s a really annoying guest who keeps playing with the light switches, turning them on and off, messing with your Wi-Fi, and tampering with the thermostat. This annoying guest is disrupting the protocols (rules) that make everything work smoothly. Protocol attacks are similar – they mess with the fundamental communication rules (protocols) of your network, causing chaos and preventing normal operations.

Application Layer Attacks

Also known as Layer 7 attacks, these focus on exhausting server resources by targeting specific aspects of applications, such as HTTP flood attacks

Finally, think of your party again, but this time, there’s a sneaky guest who’s not just crashing the party – they’re specifically targeting the punch bowl, spiking it with something nasty. They’re going after a specific part of your party to ruin it for everyone. Application layer attacks work the same way – attackers target specific applications or services on your network (like your website or email service) to disrupt them, often using sneaky, sophisticated methods.

So, whether it’s an overwhelming crowd, an annoying rule-breaker, or a sneaky saboteur, these cyber-attacks can really spoil the party. But with the right defences, you can keep your network running smoothly and keep the bad guys out!

Ways of preventing a DDoS attack

So, how do we defend against the zombie DDoS army? Well, it’s like fighting off a horde of undead in a zombie apocalypse – you arm yourself with the best cyber defences money can buy, you stay vigilant and keep your software updated to fend off potential infections, and you work together with your fellow cyber defenders to spot and neutralize threats before they can wreak havoc.

We shall now have a look at some techie ways to help prevent a DDoS attack below.

1. Network Traffic Filtering: Implement network traffic filtering mechanisms, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and intrusion prevention systems (IPS), to block or mitigate malicious traffic before it reaches the target network or server

Imagine your network as a busy highway with lots of cars (data) traveling on it. Network traffic filtering is like having checkpoints on this highway that inspect and control which cars can pass through. It helps to keep out unwanted or harmful traffic.

2. Rate Limiting and Traffic Shaping: Configure rate limiting and traffic shaping policies to control the flow of incoming traffic, preventing sudden spikes that could overwhelm network resources.

Think of your internet connection as a water pipe. Rate limiting is like putting a cap on the maximum amount of water (data) that can flow through the pipe at any given time. Traffic shaping, on the other hand, is like prioritizing certain types of data flow over others to ensure smooth delivery, even during peak usage times.

3. Anomaly Detection: Deploy anomaly detection systems that monitor network and system behaviour for deviations from normal patterns. These systems can help identify and mitigate DoS attacks in real-time by detecting unusual traffic patterns or abnormal behaviour.

Anomaly detection is like having a security guard who knows the normal behaviour of everyone in a building. If someone starts acting strangely, the guard will notice and investigate. In cybersecurity, it means monitoring network activity and spotting unusual behaviour that might indicate a problem.

4. Content Delivery Networks (CDNs): Utilize CDNs to distribute content across multiple servers and data centres, reducing the impact of DoS attacks by distributing traffic and providing caching and load balancing services.

Visualise you have a popular book and you want to make it available quickly to readers all over the world. Instead of shipping the book from one location, you place copies in libraries in different cities. CDNs work similarly by storing copies of your website’s data on servers around the world, so users can access it faster.

Load Balancing: Implement load balancing solutions to distribute incoming traffic across multiple servers or resources, ensuring optimal resource utilization and improving resilience against DoS attacks.

Picture a busy restaurant with many tables. Load balancing is like having a host who directs diners to different tables to ensure no single waiter is overwhelmed. In computing, it means distributing incoming network traffic across multiple servers to ensure no single server gets too busy.

5. DDoS Protection Services: Consider using specialized DDoS protection services offered by cloud service providers or third-party security vendors. These services can mitigate DDoS attacks by filtering malicious traffic and absorbing or redirecting attack traffic away from the target.

A DDoS attack is like a group of people crowding the entrance to a store so that legitimate customers can’t get in. DDoS protection services act like security personnel who manage the crowd and keep the entrance clear so the store can function properly.

6. Application Layer Security: Implement robust security measures at the application layer, such as input validation, rate limiting, and access controls, to protect against application-layer DoS attacks targeting specific services or APIs.

See in your mind’s eye, your house has different rooms, each with its own security needs. Application layer security is like putting locks and alarms on individual rooms (applications) within your house (network) to protect them from intruders. If an intruder does get into the house, they will not be able to easily access the whole property.

7. Network Segmentation: Segment network infrastructure to isolate critical assets and services from potential attack vectors, limiting the impact of DoS attacks and preventing lateral movement by attackers.

Envision a big office building where different departments have their own secured segments or areas. Network segmentation is the practice of dividing a network into smaller parts (segments) to control access and contain potential security issues within one area without affecting the whole network.

8. Incident Response Planning: Develop and regularly update incident response plans to effectively respond to and mitigate the impact of DoS attacks. This includes establishing communication protocols, coordinating with relevant stakeholders, and documenting response procedures.

Incident response planning is like having a fire drill plan in your office. It prepares you for what to do in case of a security incident, ensuring that everyone knows their role and the steps to take to minimize damage and recover quickly.

9. Regular Security Audits and Testing: Conduct regular security audits and penetration tests to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in network infrastructure and applications. By proactively addressing security issues, organizations can reduce the likelihood of successful DDoS attacks.

Regular security audits and testing are like having routine check-ups with a doctor to make sure everything is in good health. In cybersecurity, it means regularly reviewing and testing your systems to find and fix vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.

In the end, the zombie DDoS army may be a formidable foe, but with the right knowledge and preparation, we can stand strong against their onslaught and keep our digital fortresses safe from harm.

So, stay alert, stay informed, and together, we’ll keep the zombie hordes at bay.