DoS vs. DDoS Attack: The Key Differences and Preventions

DoS vs. DDoS Attack: A DoS attack overwhelms a server, blocking a website. DDoS, a team of computers, does the same. Both aim to disrupt services by overloading servers or web apps. To Find out more about Dos Vs. DDoS attacks read below. 

What is a DDoS Attack?

A DDoS attack is a common type of DoS attack. In it, many systems gang up to send harmful traffic to one system. Attacking from multiple places makes it easier for the attacker to take the system offline.

What is a DoS Attack?

A denial-of-service attack is a cyber-attack that overwhelms targeted servers with more UDP/TCP packets than they can handle. This can corrupt data, crash the system, or completely paralyze it, making the network unreachable. DoS attacks are easy to execute and very effective, making them a common and significant cybersecurity threat.

DoS vs. DDoS Attack: The Working 

When the server gets bombarded with more Transmission Control Protocol/User Datagram Protocol (TCP/UDP) packets than it can handle, it might crash, data could get corrupted, and resources might be diverted or depleted, causing the system to crash.

How Can You Tell if a Computer is Experiencing a DoS Attack?

Distinguishing an attack from other network issues or high bandwidth use can be challenging, but certain signs may signal an ongoing attack. Indications of a DoS attack encompass unusually sluggish network performance, like prolonged loading times for files or websites. 

Additionally, if all devices on the same network suddenly lose their internet connection, it could suggest the presence of a denial-of-service (DoS) attack. Paying attention to these indicators can help in recognizing and addressing potential security threats.

DoS vs. DDoS Attack: The Key Differences

Types of DoS Attacks and DDoS Attacks

DoS and DDoS attacks come in different shapes and can be used for various reasons. They might aim to harm a company’s business, weaken a competitor, divert attention from other attacks, or just create chaos or convey a message. Here are some common types of these attacks: 

• Teardrop Attack

In a teardrop DoS attack, the attacker sends broken pieces of data to a network. The network tries to put these pieces back together, but the tricky design of the pieces confuses the system. Trying to rebuild them exhausts the system, causing it to crash.

• Flooding Attack

A flooding attack in a DoS attack sends lots of connection requests to a server but doesn’t finish the handshake. Imagine sending requests to connect like a phone tag game, but when the server calls back, the attacker doesn’t answer. Doing this often overwhelms the server with pending requests, making it too busy or even causing it to crash.

• Application-based Attack

An application-based attack, part of DDoS, focuses on Layer 7 of the OSI model. A case is the Slowloris attack, where the attacker sends incomplete HTTP requests, periodically sending HTTP headers. This ties up network resources.

• Protocol Attack

A protocol attack, part of DDoS, targets Layers 3 and 4 in the OSI model. For instance, an attacker might mess with the TCP connection sequence, sending requests but not responding as normal or using a fake source IP address in the reply. Unanswered requests eat up network resources, making them unavailable.

• Volumetric Attack

A volumetric attack in DDoS aims at bandwidth resources. An example is when a botnet, controlled by the attacker, sends lots of request packets to a network. This overwhelms the bandwidth with ICMP echo requests, making services slow down or stop completely.

How to Prevent Dos and DDoS Attacks?

While DoS and DDoS attacks can be tricky and harmful, you can avoid or control them with the right steps. The following methods can help prevent falling victim to these attacks:

1. Test running DoS attacks: Testing DoS attacks involves simulating them. Network owners can see how well their prevention tools work by mimicking a denial-of-service attack. This is a crucial step in building a strong defense strategy.

2. Creating a backup strategy: Developing a backup plan is essential. A well-defined strategy for dealing with a DoS or DDoS attack can minimize damage to the targeted network and swiftly restore normal system operation.

3. Calculate the Possible Harm: Evaluating potential harm is crucial. Following a simulated DoS attack, it’s essential to identify the assets most affected and pinpoint vulnerabilities in the network.

4. Network Monitoring: Monitoring the network is crucial. Attackers often probe a network before launching a DoS campaign. Regular network monitoring increases your chances of spotting unusually high online traffic and stopping the attack early on.

Conclusion – DoS vs. DDoS Attack

In conclusion, understanding the key differences between DoS and DDoS attacks is crucial for fortifying online security. While DoS attacks involve overwhelming a system from a single source, DDoS attacks utilize multiple sources to amplify their impact. Effective prevention measures, such as monitoring network traffic, creating backup strategies, and assessing vulnerabilities, become essential in safeguarding against these cyber threats. Organizations can significantly reduce the DoS vs. DDoS attack risks by staying vigilant and implementing robust defense strategies.