Cybersecurity definition
What is DDoS?
DDoS stands for Distributed Denial-of-Service.
By Cyber Tool Stack Editorial TeamUpdated
Definition
An attack that floods a target with traffic from many sources at once — often a botnet — to overwhelm its capacity and knock it offline for legitimate users.
Where DDoS fits in the security landscape
These beginner lessons use this term while explaining the surrounding security control.
Related cybersecurity terms
BotnetA network of compromised devices, controlled remotely by an attacker through command-and-control infrastructure, used collectively to launch DDoS attacks, send spam, or carry out other automated abuse at scale.WAFWeb Application FirewallA filter that sits in front of a web application or API, inspecting incoming requests for attack patterns like SQL injection and cross-site scripting and blocking them before they reach the application.