Is It Illegal To Ddos Your Friend

Is DDoSing Illegal? | UpGuard

You’re woken by your phone erupting with notifications. You drowsily reach for it and find a barrage of messages from frustrated clients complaining about your try to load your website but you’re met with a frightful “service unavailable” could be a victim of a DDoS is a DDoS attack? A Distributed Denial of Service attack (DDoS attack) is the process of sending an overwhelming amount of data requests to a web server with the intention of impeding its performance. This disturbance could cause the web server to slow down or completely DDoSing Illegal? Whether your seeking vengeance for poor customer service or you just want to play a practical joke on a friend, launching a DDoS attack against another person or business is DDoSing Illegal in the U. S? DDoSing is an Illegal cybercrime in the United States. A DDoS attack could be classified as a federal criminal offense under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA). The use of booter services and stressers also violates this you’re found guilty of causing intentional harm to a computer or server in a DDoS attack, you could be charged with a prison sentence of up to 10 you believe you are a victim of a DDoS attack you should seek legal advice as soon as Does a DDoS Attack Work? A DDoS attack is a coordinated attack between multiple computers and internet of things (IoT) devices. These devices are infected with malware so that they can be controlled by cyber more infected devices (bots) an attacker recruits, the more powerful the assault. When these bots are linked together the malicious network is known as a botnet. A botnet is comprised of multiple compromised devicesWhen a DDoS attack is initiated, each bot sends consistent traffic requests to the host IP address. This flood of requests overwhelms the web server forcing it to deny entry (or deny service) to legitimate website ‘s a fascinating visualization of a DDoS attack in action:‍‍DDoS attacks are not always launched for extortion purposes, like ransomware. They’re usually intended to solely cause disruption and send a message of hatred. They can be launched either by an individual or a group of motivation behind a DDoS attack ranges from personal vendettas to political activism. Some attacks are launched by hacktivist groups, such as the ubiquitous group Types of DDoS Attacks There are many variations of DDoS attacks. Some are simplistic and fairly easy to mitigate, others are deeply complex. To maximize damage and frustration, attackers sometimes use a variation of DDoS attacks in a single event. Here are three common types of DDoS attacks. ​1. Volumetric attacksThis is the most common type of DDoS attack. The attacker floods a web server with data packets to completely saturate its bandwidth. This prevents real visitors from loading a victim’s website. DNS amplification is a type of volumetric attack where amplified data requests are made to open DNS servers and the resulting response traffic aimed at victims. 2. Application attacksIn an application attack, the very top layer of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model is targeted, layer 7. Because application attacks are focused on just the top layer, they require less bandwidth saturation to execute a successful DDoS application attacks target the path of common internet requests, such as HTTP, these attacks could request millions of downloads per second or millions of page refreshes per second. The effect is a rapid consumption of server resources. 3. Protocol attacksThis particular cyber attack target levels 3 and 4 of the OSI model. It aims to deplete server resources for firewalls and load example of a protocol attack is a SYN flood attack. A SYN flood attack exploits the standard 3-way handshake of a TCP/IP transaction. The three-phase of this transaction are as follows:SYN – the host receives a message to initiate the transactionSYN/ACK – confirms the request for informationACK – server closes the a SYN flood attack, the server sends an ACK message to a spoof IP address that doesn’t respond, preventing the handshake loop from closing. Because the server is forced to wait for multiple ACK responses that never arrive, its resources are ‘s the Difference Between a DoS Attack and a DDoS Attack? A DoS attack is executed by a single computer whereas a DDoS attack is executed by a network of compromised devices. The cumulative effect of DDoS attacks makes them substantially more destructive to web servers. Difference between a DoS and DDoS attackDDoS attacks are severely detrimental to an online business because they completely stop the flow of traffic or slow a website down to the point of it being unusable. In both scenarios, a website’s income generation engine will grind to a owners need to, therefore, learn how to identify when a DDoS attack is taking place and understand the correct remediation to Identify When a DDoS Attack is HappeningThere are a couple of signs that may be evidence of a DDoS attack taking place. These signs alone are not enough to conclude an attack is taking place, but they should encourage further investigation. 1. Your website is loading very slowlyBecause DDoS attacks deplete the resources of web servers, a website under attack will process information very slowly if it can still be loaded. You can test your site speed for free using Google’s page speed insights tool. You should have a benchmark site speed value to measure ensure there isn’t an issue with your internet connection, you should try to load other websites too. You receive a 503 service unavailable error If you see a ‘503 service unavailable error’ when you try to load any of your webpages, but other websites load perfectly, there’s a high chance you’re a victim of a DDoS attack. The 503 service unavailable error means that a web server is incapable of processing a load request. Keep in mind that this error could also mean that a server is temporarily down for maintenance. A 503 error should definitely warrant further investigation. If you don’t have access to your server logs, you should contact your ISP to check the status of your server. If you do have access to your web server, you can identify a DDoS attack from access entifying a DDoS Attack from the Command Line Interface (CLI)Through your web server’s Command Line Interface (CLI) you can generate a log of all the active connections to your can generate a list of the IP addresses connected to your server ports with the following command prompt:netstat -anHere’s an example output:Healthy web server log example – source: mDuring a DDoS attack, you will notice multiple instances of the same IP address connected to one server port, timing out the ‘s an example of such an instance:Example of web server log during DDoS attack – source: can narrow your filter to only list HTTP requests for your website on port 80. This will help you identify multiple connections from a single IP address. To do this use the following command:netstat -an | grep:80 | sortTo list the number of connections by IP address to port 80 (HTTP traffic), use the following command:netstat -plan|grep:80|awk {‘print $5’}|cut -d: -f 1|sort|uniq -c|sort -nk 1You should also analyze IP address connections on the port running all encrypted traffic (HTTPS), port tstat -an | grep:443 | sortAnd list the number of connections by IP address to this encryption port as follows:netstat -plan|grep:443|awk {‘print $5’}|cut -d: -f 1|sort|uniq -c|sort -nk 1To see how many times each IP address connects to your server, use the following command line:netstat -ntu | awk ‘{print $5}’ | cut -d: -f1 | sort | uniq -c | sort -nDuring a DDoS attack, your server may receive thousands of connection requests from a single IP address, so look for unusually high server requests. In 2014, CCTV cameras infected with malware were used to launch a DDoS attack peaking at 20, 000 requests per second (RPS). Similarly, in 2016 a devastating Mirai-based DDoS attack was launched against Dyn, a DNS service company. The attackers used Wi-Fi cameras in their botnet to implement the attack. The attack resulted in internet outages throughout most of the east most effectively identify a DDoS attack from your server logs, you need to have a server connection activity baseline to measure against. This will help you identify and resolve an attack as soon as possible instead of waiting to see how the data to Do During a DDoS AttackIf you don’t have immediate access to your web server, you should contact your internet service provider as soon as possible. Once the attack has been resolved, they may provide you with a new IP address. To save you time (and stress) during a DDoS attack, preemptively call your internet service provider to note down the direct number to call when one is taking place. Like all cybersecurity threats, a speedy response is you do have access to your server, you should clear your logs ASAP. Because the aim of DDoS attack is to deplete as many of your web resources as possible, your web server could fail catastrophically under the immense data load. Make sure you are only clearing log data you do not you can identify suspicious IP addresses during a DDoS attack, you should blacklist them and monitor the progression of the attack. If the severity is decreases or the IP addresses attempt to connect again, they’re likely from innocent visitors. DDoS attackers tend to modify the IP addresses of their botnets in response to being to Prevent DDoS Attacks DDoS attackers are continuously evolving their strategies to bypass mitigation solutions. Their methods continue to grow in complexity and severity. To give your business the highest chances of fending off a DDoS attack you need to implement several cybersecurity defense layers. Increase the bandwidth of your web serverWith a broader resource bandwidth, your server could possibly bear the burden of a DDoS attack while keeping your website functioning. In-house server hardware does not give you the option of efficiently expanding your bandwidth to meet increased demand. This limitation makes on-premise hardware vulnerable to failure during a DDoS might want to consider switching to a secure cloud-based web server. Advanced Cloud-based web servers let you expand your bandwidth very efficiently. They also offer a bandwidth tolerance to absorb DDoS attacks before your resources are cloud-based servers have a dedicated security team continuously monitoring your website for DDoS attacks. Blacklist suspicious IP addressesIf you identify suspicious IP addresses accessing your website you should blacklist them. This would require you to continuously monitor your access logs for unusual activity. Just make sure you’re not too trigger happy, you don’t want to blacklist innocent prospective customers. Implement multiple firewalls with packet filtersMultiple firewall layers are a very effective DDoS protection solution. In a double firewall setup, traffic needs to pass through two screening routers and a Bastion host before entering your internal first filter identifies and removes spoofed source IP packets. Spoofed packets are identified when their hop count values differ from the original source IP second filter has stricter entry conditions. It uses a Router Path Analysis (R-PA) method to analyze the path names of the entering data packets. Spoofed IP packets can be readily identified by their path name values and FIrewall DDoS DefenceCan a VPN Defend Against DDoS Attacks? A VPN cannot protect you from a DDoS attack if the attacker knows your real IP address. If you think a potential attacker knows your IP address, you should change it to reap the cybersecurity benefits of your your internet service provider offers you a dynamic IP address, resetting your router will modify your IP address. Otherwise, you will need to contact your ISP to have it manually Your Business at Risk of a Data Breach? At UpGuard, we can protect your business from data breaches, identify all of your data leaks, and help you continuously monitor the security posture of all your your risk of suffering a data breach, CLICK HERE to get your FREE security rating now!

What is a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack? | Varonis

A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack is an attempt to crash a web server or online system by overwhelming it with data. DDoS attacks can be simple mischief, revenge, or hacktivism, and can range from a minor annoyance to long-term downtime resulting in loss of business.
Hackers hit GitHub with a DDoS attack of 1. 35 terabytes of data per second in February of 2018. That’s a massive attack, and it’s doubtful that it will be the last of its kind.
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Unlike ransomware or attacks from APT groups, which are financially motivated, DDoS attacks are more disruptive and annoying. How bad can it get? Thousands of avid gamers couldn’t get on Classic WoW because of a DDoS attack! The point is attackers don’t make money off of a DDoS attack – they’re simply doing it to cause pain.
DoS vs DDoS
Effect on Security
Types of Attacks
Prevention
DDoS Attacks Today
DDoS Attack FAQ
How Does a DDoS Attack Work?
DDoS attacks most often work by botnets – a large group of distributed computers that act in concert with each other –simultaneously spamming a website or service provider with data requests.
Attackers use malware or unpatched vulnerabilities to install Command and Control (C2) software on user’s systems to create a botnet. DDoS attacks rely on a high number of computers in the botnet to achieve the desired effect, and the easiest and cheapest way to get control of that many machines is by leveraging exploits.
The DYNDNS attack exploited WIFI cameras with default passwords to create a huge botnet. Once they have the botnet ready, the attackers send the start command to all of their botnet nodes, and the botnets will then send their programmed requests to the target server. If the attack makes it past the outer defenses, it quickly overwhelms most systems, causes service outages, and in some cases, crashes the server. The end-result of a DDoS attack is primarily lost productivity or service interruption – customers can’t see a website.
While that may sound benign, the cost of a DDoS attack averaged $2. 5 million in 2017. Kaspersky reports that DDoS attacks cost small businesses $120, 000 and enterprises $2, 000, 000. Hackers engage DDoS attacks for anything ranging from childish pranks to revenge against a business to express political activism.
DDoS attacks are illegal under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Starting a DDoS attack against a network without permission is going to cost you up to 10 years in prison and up to a $500, 000 fine.
What is the Difference Between a DoS and a DDoS Attack?
A Denial of Service (DoS) attack includes many kinds of attacks all designed to disrupt services. In addition to DDoS, you can have application layer DoS, advanced persistent DoS, and DoS as a service. Companies will use DoS as a service to stress test their networks.
In short, DDoS is one type of DoS attack – however, DoS can also mean that the attacker used a single node to initiate the attack, instead of using a botnet. Both definitions are correct.
What Does a DDoS Attack Mean for My Security?
You need to prepare and plan to manage a DDoS attack against your systems. You need to monitor, generate alerts, and quickly diagnose a DDoS attack in progress. The next step is shutting down the attack quickly without affecting your users. You can block the IP addresses using your Next-Gen Firewall, or close inbound traffic to the targeted system and failover to a backup. There are other response plans you can implement, make sure to have one.
Common Types of DDoS Attacks
There are several different ways attackers perpetuate a DDoS attack. Here are some of the most recognized:
Application Layer Attacks
Application layer DDoS attacks aim to exhaust the resources of the target and disrupt access to the target’s website or service. Attackers load the bots with a complicated request that taxes the target server as it tries to respond. The request might require database access or large downloads. If the target gets several million of those requests in a short time, it can very quickly get overwhelmed and either slowed to a crawl or locked up completely.
An HTTP Flood attack, for example, is an application layer attack that targets a web server on the target and uses many fast HTTP requests to bring the server down. Think of it as pressing the refresh button in rapid-fire mode on your game controller. That kind of traffic from many thousands of computers at once will quickly drown the webserver.
Protocol Attacks
Protocol DDoS attacks target the networking layer of the target systems. Their goal is to overwhelm the tablespaces of the core networking services, the firewall, or load balancer that forwards requests to the target.
In general, network services work off a first-in, first-out (FIFO) queue. The first request comes in, the computer processes the request, and then it goes and gets the next request in the queue so on. Now there are a limited number of spots on this queue, and in a DDoS attack, the queue could become so huge that there aren’t resources for the computer to deal with the first request.
A SYN flood attack is a specific protocol attack. In a standard TCP/IP network transaction, there is a 3-way handshake. They are the SYN, the ACK, and the SYN-ACK. The SYN is the first part, which is a request of some kind, the ACK is the response from the target, and the SYN-ACK is the original requester saying “thanks, I got the information I requested. ” In a SYN flood attack, the attackers create SYN packets with fake IP addresses. The target then sends an ACK to the dummy address, which never responds, and it then sits there and waits for all those responses to time out, which in turn exhausts the resources to process all of these fake transactions.
Volumetric Attacks
The goal of a volumetric attack is to use the botnet to generate a major amount of traffic and clog up the works on the target. Think of like an HTTP Flood attack, but with an added exponential response component. For example, if you and 20 of your friends all called the same pizza place and ordered 50 pies at the same time, that pizza shop wouldn’t be able to fulfill those requests. Volumetric attacks operate on the same principle. They request something from the target that will vastly increase the size of the response, and the amount of traffic explodes and clogs up the server.
DNS Amplification is a kind of volumetric attack. In this case, they are attacking the DNS server directly and requesting a large amount of data back from the DNS server, which can bring the DNS server down and cripple anyone that is using that DNS server for name resolution services.
How Can DDoS Attacks Be Prevented?
How did GitHub survive that massive DDoS attack? Planning and preparation, of course. After 10 minutes of intermittent outages, the GitHub servers activated their DDoS mitigation service. The mitigation service rerouted incoming traffic and scrubbed the malicious packets, and about 10 minutes later the attackers gave up.
In addition to paying for DDoS mitigation services from companies like Cloudflare and Akamai, you can employ your standard endpoint security measures. Patch your servers, keep your Memcached servers off the open internet, and train your users to recognize phishing attacks.
You can turn on Black Hole Routing during a DDoS attack to send all traffic to the abyss. You can set up rate limiting to cap the number of requests a server gets in a short amount of time. A properly configured firewall can also protect your servers.
Varonis monitors your DNS, VPN, Proxies, and data to help detect signs of an impending DDoS attack against your corporate network. Varonis tracks behavior patterns and generates warnings when current behavior matches a threat model or deviates from standard behavior. This can include malware botnet attacks or significant increases in network traffic that indicate a DDoS attack.
Just like everything else in computing, DDoS attacks are evolving and becoming more destructive to business. Attack sizes are increasing, growing from 150 requests per second in the 1990s – which would bring a server of that era down – to the recent DYNDNS attack and GitHub attack at 1. 2 TBs and 1. 35 TBs respectively. The goal in both of these attacks was to disrupt two major sources of productivity across the globe.
These attacks used new techniques to achieve their huge bandwidth numbers. The Dyn attack used an exploit found in Internet of Things (IoT) devices to create a botnet, called the Mirai Botnet attack. Mirai used open telnet ports and default passwords to take over WiFi-enabled cameras to execute the attack. This attack was a childish prank but presented a major vulnerability that comes with the proliferation of the IoT devices.
The GitHub attack exploited the many thousands of servers running Memcached on the open internet, an open-source memory caching system. Memcached happily responds with huge amounts of data to simple requests, so leaving these servers on the open internet is a definite no-no.
Both of these attacks show a significant risk of future exploits, especially as the IoT universe continues to grow. How fun would it be for your fridge to be part of a botnet? On the bright side, GitHub wasn’t even brought down by the attack.
What’s more, DDoS attacks have never been easier to execute. With multiple DDoS-as-a-Service options available, malicious actors can pay a nominal fee to “rent” a botnet of infected computers to execute a DDoS attack against their target of choice.
In September of 2019, attackers hit both Wikipedia and Classic World of Warcraft with DDoS attacks. Currently, there isn’t any indication these attacks are new technology but stay tuned for any updates.
A quick look at the answers to common questions people have about DDoS attacks.
Q: What happens during a DDoS attack?
A: During a DDoS attack the distributed computers – botnet – spam the target with as many data requests as possible.
Q: Are DDoS attacks illegal?
A: Yes, it is illegal to use DDoS techniques to disrupt a target without permission. It’s a good practice to set up a DDoS drill so you can practice your Incident Response plan for DDoS attacks, which is a legal use of DDoS.
Q: In a DDoS attack, what communications channel is commonly used to orchestrate the attack?
A: HTTP, DNS, and TCP/IP requests are common protocols used for DDoS attacks.
DDoS attacks can be disruptive, so take a proactive approach and build an Incident Response plan to respond quickly. Varonis’ unique combination of monitoring and threat detection capabilities give you a head start on your DDoS strategy.
Check a Live Cyber Attack Demo webinar to see Varonis in action.

Protecting Gamers from DoS and DDoS Attacks – Imperva

Have you ever experienced a suspiciously well-timed connection drop while playing an online game? Maybe you were just about to round out that royal flush or take down the mid-lane tier 2 tower, when suddenly your ping spiked and it was game over. If that sounds familiar, there’s a good chance that the game that you’re playing was the target of a denial of service (DoS) attack.
If you’re a fan of Xbox, PlayStation or any popular PC game, you’ve probably heard of DDoS attacks on the gaming networks. The denial of service arms race is currently raging across the globe, and the weapons of would-be attackers are strong, widespread and simple to use. As a consequence, it’s now easier than ever to launch a DDoS attack against individual users, and gamers are paying the price.
Thankfully, you don’t need to hire Microsoft’s network security team to defend yourself.
We’ll answer some pressing questions about DDoS attacks on gamers and offer some tried and tested steps you can take to protect your network and stay safe as you enter the digital battlefield.
How Do DoS and DDoS Attacks Work?
Can I be DDoSed?
How Do I know if I’m Being Attacked?
What Should I Do if I’m DoSed?
What Other Basic Steps Can Keep Me Safe?
What Are Advanced Solutions for Stopping a DDoS Attack?
Stay Secure and Game On
(Watch this webinar hosted by AWS and Imperva to learn how Imperva helped this leading web company automate its DDoS and other application security. )
In a denial of service (DoS) attack, unwanted traffic is sent to a target IP address to overwhelm it with data, either to take the network entirely offline, or simply slow it down. Since one network connection is unlikely to be able to send enough data to properly flood its target alone, attackers use distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks instead to bring down the site. Gamers encounter denial of service attacks typically.
In a DDoS attack, multiple computers are used to flood the target IP address, ensuring that enough data is sent to overwhelm its network. This is typically done by using a botnet, or a group of computers that have been infected by a virus allowing attackers to initiate network traffic from that device, often without the owner’s knowledge or awareness. When gaming servers are victims of DDoS attacks, the game is unavailable to gamers.
Botnets are so common that attackers can literally rent one to carry out a successful attack without any specialized knowledge or technical ability.
Anybody can be the target of a DDoS attack, but only if the attacker knows your IP address. Fortunately, your IP should be hidden automatically if you only play online through official servers and platforms like the Xbox or Steam networks. However, if you’re a PC gamer who plays games that support private third-party servers (like Minecraft or Team Fortress 2), your IP may be visible to server administrators or to the public when you’re connected.
Third-party voice chat programs are the most notorious weak points for attackers searching for your IP address. Skype, which was consistently identified as having very poor IP security, recently added the ability to hide your IP address.
Whichever voice program you use, follow basic security practices, keep your program updated with the latest patches and adjust your settings to ensure that you only receive calls and requests from players on your friends list. Your user profile and identifying information should also be kept private. Procedures for adjusting the relevant settings are different for every program — and change frequently — so you’ll need to consult help files or the program’s support site for the most up-to-date information.
How Do I Know if I’m Being Attacked?
Often, sudden outage and unexplained disconnect is the only sign you’ll have that you’re experiencing a DoS attack. To confirm that it’s an attack, you first need to rule out normal network errors that might be impacting your internet connection.
Start by unplugging your modem and/or router, both at the power source and the network cable.
Turn off your computer (or console, if the modem is connected to it directly).
Leave everything off for five minutes, then plug everything back in and turn the equipment on.
If your internet connectivity isn’t restored, you’ll need to call your ISP for technical support. Many ISPs have automated messages alerting callers to service problems in their area, but if you don’t have that option, or don’t have a service alert, ask to speak directly to a support technician. They can walk you through troubleshooting steps for your network, and in many cases can find out directly whether suspicious traffic is being sent to your IP that might be a DoS or even DDoS attack.
Obtaining a new IP address is usually an effective way to stop an ongoing attack, since attackers often configure their botnet to operate automatically for as long as the target IP remains active.
Use a site like to verify that your IP address has been successfully reset before and after taking any of the following steps:
Reset Your IP Address
Resetting your IP address every few days is a good habit to develop if you’ve been the target of multiple DDoS attacks, or if you’re a streamer or highly visible gamer. While doing so won’t prevent an attacker from searching for your new IP address, it can delay the process of finding it.
Unplug
The easiest way to reset your IP address is to unplug your modem and/or router. Depending on your ISP’s procedures, you may need to leave the devices unplugged for anywhere between 10 minutes and 12 hours, at which point your existing IP address should expire. You’ll be assigned a new one when your hardware reconnects.
Using your router console
To reset your IP address when your computer is connected directly to an ISP router, navigate to your router’s Admin Console, usually by typing “ into your web browser’s address bar. Consult your router’s manual to find out how to access Admin functions if that doesn’t work.
Consult the Admin Console’s help files or your ISP’s support site to find out how to release your IP. In most cases, the appropriate settings can be found under a “Network Settings” or “Network Identification” section. Note that some ISPs won’t allow you to reset your IP this way.
If unplugging and using the Admin Console doesn’t work, you can try the next steps to reset your IP address if your network is connected through a Windows PC or Apple computer.
To reset your IP address on a Windows PC:
Open the Start Menu, then open a Command Prompt by typing “cmd” into the search/run bar.
In the Command Prompt window, type “ipconfig /release” and hit enter. Then, type “ipconfig /renew” and hit enter.
To reset your IP address on an Apple computer:
Open the Apple Menu, then select System Preferences, then click Network.
Select your network in the listed DHCP services.
Click Advanced, select TCP/IP, then click “Renew DHCP Lease. ”
It may be necessary to restart your computer and modem or router to complete the process.
Request a New IP Address
If you’re not able to reset your IP address on your own, you may contact your ISP directly to request a new address.
If you’re a frequent target of DDoS attacks, you can ask for a “dynamic IP, ” which changes your IP address on a regular schedule. However, many ISPs don’t allow consumer-level users to hold a dynamic IP and it often is not effective against a determined attacker. Additionally, a dynamic IP may lead to technical difficulties with your chosen streaming site if you’re a regular game streamer.
Note: Depending on your set up, ISP and home network, you may need to check with your service provider to find out what specific steps you need to take.
While an antivirus program and software firewall won’t stop determined attackers, they’re still a good first-line defense to stop casual IP detection. They can also prevent you from being caught up in a larger DDoS attack directed at game servers you’re connected to.
Additionally, a robust firewall and antivirus are the best ways to make sure your own devices don’t become infected by a Trojan virus and turn into members of a botnet themselves. Make sure you have a firewall and antivirus installed on all computers connected to your network, and be sure to configure your security software to automatically download important updates.
What Are Advanced Solutions for Stopping a DoS Attack?
If you’ve reset your IP and taken care of the network basics, but are still experiencing DDoS attacks, here are some more advanced solutions to look at.
Use a Virtual Private Network
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) effectively hides your IP address behind a virtual wall. In a VPN, all of your internet traffic is first routed to the provider’s network before passing to the open internet. For would-be attackers and their IP-detection tools, your IP is the VPN’s IP. DDoS traffic will hit your VPN’s servers first, where it is screened out before reaching your home network.
The downside of a VPN is that its ability to safeguard your IP is dependent on the provider’s procedures, and the addition of a new “hop” in your network path can lead to latency and higher ping times in-game. To avoid those issues, look for a VPN provider with experience providing low-latency connections to gamers and that can guarantee your IP will stay secure.
Upgrade Your Home Network
If your network hardware is provided by your ISP, it should be up to date and secure. However, if you bought your own third-party modem or router, or if you’ve had the same hardware from your ISP for more than four years, it’s time to upgrade.
Some routers and hardware firewalls are available with built-in safeguards against DDoS attacks and other network intrusions. They can automatically block heavy bursts of network traffic, especially if it comes from many sources, which could indicate a DDoS botnet in action. Another feature is a “blacklist” that blocks incoming connections from known botnet IP addresses.
Advanced network security can sometimes impact your internet usage and game playing, so consider hardware upgrades to be a last resort, unless yours is significantly out of date.
The bot wars may be raging across the internet, but your home network can avoid becoming a casualty with the safeguards mentioned above. By regularly updating your security software, taking steps to secure your IP address, and using a VPN, you can ensure that your gaming time continues without interruption.
As a part of the gaming community you understand the importance of an uninterrupted gaming experience. Let your game provider know if you are having trouble and request them to provide a better and more secure gaming environment.
We’ll be covering how gaming companies can protect themselves against attacks. If you work for a gaming company, find out more about infrastructure protection and how it can keep your players safe on the digital battlefield.
If you work for an ISP, you can read more about using GRE tunneling to provide fast, secure VPN services.
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Frequently Asked Questions about is it illegal to ddos your friend

Is DDoSing someone’s WIFI illegal?

DDoS attacks are illegal under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Starting a DDoS attack against a network without permission is going to cost you up to 10 years in prison and up to a $500,000 fine.Mar 29, 2020

Can you DDoS individuals?

Anybody can be the target of a DDoS attack, but only if the attacker knows your IP address.Jun 22, 2016

Can I call the police if someone DDoS me?

Making a Police Report. File a report with law enforcement if you lost money in the attack. You can report a DDos attack to law enforcement if you were threatened or blackmailed or if you lost money as a result of the attack. In most cases, contact your national web crime unit.