In a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack, an attacker overwhelms its target with unwanted internet traffic so that normal traffic can’t reach its intended destination.
From a high level, a DDoS or DoS attack is like an unexpected traffic jam caused by hundreds of bogus ride-share requests. The requests appear to be legitimate to ride-share services, and they dispatch drivers for pickup that inevitably clog up the city streets. This prevents regular legitimate traffic from arriving at its destination.
During a DDoS attack, attackers use large numbers of exploited machines and connected devices across the internet — including Internet of Things (IoT) devices, smartphones, personal computers, and network servers — to send a flood of traffic to targets.
A DDoS or DoS attack is like a traffic jam
A DDoS attack on a company’s website, web application, APIs, network, or data center infrastructure can cause downtime and prevent legitimate users from buying products, using a service, getting information, or any other access.