What does DDoS stand for?

DDoS stands for Distributed Denial of Service, which is a malicious attempt to disrupt the normal functioning of a targeted server, service, or network by overwhelming it with a flood of internet traffic. The key aspect of a DDoS attack is that it is conducted from multiple computers or devices, often part of a botnet, which makes it particularly challenging to mitigate.

In contrast to a single-source attack, which is termed a Denial of Service (DoS), the distributed nature of a DDoS means that the attack sources are numerous and widely spread out, complicating the task of identifying and blocking the source traffic. This makes defending against DDoS attacks significantly more complex because the volume of incoming traffic can overwhelm the capacity of the target, leading to network slowdowns or complete service outages.

Understanding the distinction between DDoS and other terms is crucial for effective network security. The options relating to Direct, Dynamic, or Directive do not properly capture the essence of what a DDoS attack entails, being that they either focus on a single source or misuse the terminology in a way that does not reflect its true nature.