This is one of the most often occurring hacker attacks on the site. How to defend yourself against him?

Owners of small websites, such as online stores, often underestimate the threat. . The problem is that for modern hackers, business size does not matter. What counts is potential profit or the possibility of harming the competition.

Why is DDOS so dangerous?

During the DDOS attack, the server is covered with thousands of false queries that occupy all its resources. As a result, real users cannot get to the page – the server is too busy responding to attacks.

Most DDoS attacks are carried out using ordinary computers and smartphones belonging to unconscious users. Hackers take control of these devices, installing malware on them. Such a network of taken devices is called botnet. The worst thing is that the attack can last for hours and even days.

How to recognize a DDOS attack?

Initially, symptoms can resemble ordinary technical problems. The site slows down, errors appear, users complain about login problems. In the event of a DDOS attack:

• Problems increase rapidly
• The standard server restart does not help
• server logs show thousands of suspicious queries
• The website traffic is unusual high
• Some of the functions work and some do not correspond completely

Defense against DDOS attacks is not easy, but there are several effective methods:

• Monitor traffic on your website. A sudden increase in the number of visits can be the first attack signal. Particular attention pay to a movement from unusual locations or generated by suspicious IP addresses.
• Use the CDN services (Content Delivery Network). These networks can recognize and filter harmful traffic before it reaches your server. One of the most popular are Cloudflare and Akamai.
• Increase the bandwidth of your link. Increasing the bandwidth of the link allows you to handle more movement, which makes it difficult to overload the server.
• Regularly update the software. Hackers often use known loans in security. Current systems and applications are much more difficult to attack.

Also remember about the basics:

• regularly create backups
• Keep updated systems and applications
• Consider buying an additional spare server
• Prepare the emergency – where to move the page in the event of an attack

What to do when you are attacked?

First of all, don’t panic. You have several options for action:

• Immediately notify your hosting supplier. Most companies have procedures for such situations and can quickly turn on additional security.
• Turn on geographical filtering – Often, attacks come from specific regions of the world. By temporarily blocking traffic from these areas, you can gain more time.
• If you have a backup, move the page to another server. Changing the IP address may confuse the attackers.
• Report the case to Cert Polska – This is a team of cyber security specialists. They will help you and collect valuable information about the attack.
• Consider temporary simplification of the page – Less functions are less server load.

Also remember to analyze the situation after the attack. Where did the attack come from? What were the weak security points? Drawing conclusions will help you prepare better for the future.