What does DDoS stand for?

DDoS stands for Distributed Denial of Service. This term refers to a malicious attempt to disrupt the normal functioning of a targeted server, service, or network by overwhelming it with a flood of internet traffic. In this scenario, multiple compromised computer systems, often forming a botnet, are utilized to launch the attack from various locations rather than a single source.

By distributing the attack across many different machines, it becomes much harder to mitigate and defend against. The collaborative nature of the attack is what differentiates it from a standard Denial of Service (DoS) attack, which usually involves a single source targeting a victim system. Understanding DDoS is crucial for recognizing and protecting against one of the most common forms of cyber threats today.