DDoS Denial of Service Attacks: Network Security's Biggest Threat, Still

[mandy]

Five years ago, network security experts gathered at a NetWorld+Interop conference and issued a dire warning:  devastating Denial of Service attacks loom, they said, and they could not have been more prescient. Their call to action wasn't all hype, hyperbole or overreaction. Today, DoS and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks against web sites of all sizes are common. Some pack alarming consequences, not to mention generally nasty surprises resulting in jaw-grinding headaches for site administrators.

Compromised hosts -- commonly referred to as zombies or bots -- are everywhere," Arbor Networks said. "All respondents reported attacks involving thousands of compromised hosts, and that zombie networks or  botnets, are employed in well over half of all DDoS events."

Motivations for DDoS attacks run the gamut, but highest on the network security providers' list of best hunches were "cyber terrorism/warfare, corporate espionage, disputes between adolescents on gaming sites and cyber protests."...

full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/cmp/20051109/tc_cmp/173600561

[mandy]

A related article:

...website attacks are increasing in frequency and ferocity, hammering DVD sales and disrupting online payment services.

Called "distributed denial of service attacks" (DDOS), they bombard sites with so much data that legitimate traffic can't get through.

They've been around for years. But they're now more powerful, and they're taking down more than just intended targets. In recent incidents, companies providing Web-hosting services for victims — as well as hundreds of their customers — have been caught in the cross-hairs, creating a wave of collateral damage...

"If you have a bunch of people determined to knock you off line, it is difficult to defend yourself,"...

full article: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/comput...OE=TECISVA

related article: 2-Days of Denial of Service Attacks Down StormPay Web Site http://community.tuliptools.com/index.ph...ml#msg9403

[Randolph]

Take a look at GigabitDC protection from ddos attacks. They do cost effective dedicated hosted on their own data center in Zurich.