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'''DDoS''' is the acronym for '''Distributed Denial of Service.'''
'''Distributed Denial of Service Attacks''', or '''DDoS Attacks''', effectively flood websites or servers with traffic from many different sources in order to "make the site unavailable."<ref name="attack map">[http://www.digitalattackmap.com/understanding-ddos/ What is a DDoS Attack?], Digital Attack Map</ref> DDoS is a type of [[DoS Attack|Denial of Service Attack (DoS Attack)]] that uses multiple sources in order to blocks users from accessing the site. It is important to remember that not all service errors are the result of attack behaviors and can occur if a website is overwhelmed by non-malicious traffic as well.<ref>[http://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/tips/ST04-015 Security Tip (ST04-015): Understanding Denial-of-Service Attacks] (February 6, 2013), United States Department of Homeland Security</ref>
==DNSSEC-enabled DDoS Attacks==
"Poorly configured DNSSEC servers at root of DDoS attacks," says [[Neustar]]'s [[Joe Loveless]].<ref>[https://www.infoworld.com/article/3109581/poorly-configured-dnssec-servers-at-root-of-ddos-attacks.html Fahmida Y. Rashid, InfoWorld]</ref>


The telephone system, computer system and Domain Name System ([[DNS]]) sometimes become unusable during peak hours because of supply and demand. However, when an intruder or hacker interrupts the system, takes control of the computer, prevents the legitimate user from using it, and forces the computer to send such a large amount of email to another person that it cannot be handled by the recipient's save disk, a '''Denial of Service (DoS) attack''' happens. If an intruder attacks a particular computer, takes control of it, sends extraordinary amount of data to a website and distributes it to numerous email addresses affecting the computer network, the intrusion is called a '''Distributed Denial of Service attack'''.<ref>[http://www.cert.org/homeusers/ddos.html What is a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attack and What Can I Do About It?]</ref>
==Public Perception==
The public perception of DDoS attacks is negative. It is inconvenient to users who cannot reach their destination, and it can create major problems for the website's registrant, whether it is the website of an individual or an organization. DDoS attacks can become criminal when the attacker asks for money to stop the current attack or to prevent further attacks.<ref name="blog"/> DDoS attacks can also be used by "hacktivists" for political gain, to interrupt free speech, or in protest of perceived injustice.<ref name="attack map"/><ref name="blog"/>


==Background==
==Outcome==
The [[CERT/CC]] at Canegie Mellon University documented the first incident of Denial Of Service Attack in 1999 when the [[Trinoo]] and [[Tribe Flood Network]] (TFN) DDoS Network tools were widely distributed. The two DDoS used UDP Flood attack, TCP SYN flood, ICMP echo request flood, and ICMP directed broadcast denial of service attacks respectively.<ref>[http://www.cert.org/incident_notes/IN-99-07.html Cert Incident Notes IN-99-09 Distributed Denial of Service Tools]</ref> Trinoo attacked a single computer from Minnesota University, affected around 227 systems, and became unusable for more than two days.<ref>
The outcome of a DDoS attack is that the attacked website is unavailable or runs very slowly. The damage done by these attacks can lead to minor inconveniences, losses in consumer confidence, or large revenue losses.
[http://www.garykessler.net/library/ddos.html Defenses Against Distributed Denial of Service Attacks]</ref>


On February 2000, a massive DDoS attack paralyzed high profile websites including [[Yahoo]]!, [[Buy.com]], [[eBay]], CNN, [[Amazon.com]], [[ZDNet.com]], E-Trade, and Excite, which together lost an estimated amount of $1.7 billion. A suspect, a Canadian juvenile with the online alias "mafiaboy," was arrested on April of the same year. He pleaded guilty on January 18, 2001 on 56 charges of mischief and illegal use of computer services.<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/hackers/whoare/notable.html E-Commerce Giants Crippled in DDoS Attacks]</ref>
==Historical Use==
*DDoS attacks have been used to take down or interrupt the traffic of large sites, making them inaccessible.<ref name=Weiss>[http://www.esecurityplanet.com/network-security/how-to-prevent-dos-attacks.html How to Prevent DoS Attacks] by Aaron Weiss (July 2, 2012), eSecurity Planet</ref><ref>[http://blog.icann.org/2013/04/do-more-to-prevent-dns-ddos-attacks/ Do More to Prevent DNS DDoS Attacks] by Dave Piscitello (April 3, 2013), Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)</ref> These planned attacks can be committed for political, social, and/or illegal purposes.<ref name="blog"/> Unlike regular DoS attacks, DDoS attacks use multiple computers to attack their victims which often makes the attack harder to stop.<ref name=Weiss/> [[Botnet Attacks|Botnets]], or networks of computers controlled by hackers, are often used in DDoS attacks.<ref>[http://www.prolexic.com/knowledge-center-what-is-ddos-denial-of-service.html What is DDoS denial of service? What everyone needs to know about DDoS], Prolexic</ref>  


Over the years, intruders have used different DDoS tools to affect computer systems:
*Four types of DDoS attacks include:<ref name="attack map"/>
* [[Stacheldraht]], 1.666 DDoS tool was discovered and widely spread on multiple compromised hosts in several organizations;<ref>[http://www.cert.org/advisories/CA-2000-01.html CA-2000-01 Denial-of-Service Developments]</ref>
#TCP Connection Attacks: attempting "to use up all the available connections to infrastructure devices"<ref name="attack map"/>
* [[Love Letter Worm]], a malicious VBScript which was spread through emails, Windows file sharing, IRC, USENET news and through webpages affecting more than 500,000 computer systems;<ref>[http://www.cert.org/advisories/CA-2000-04.html CERT Advisory CA-2000-04 Love Letter Worm]</ref>  
#Volumetric Attacks: attempting to use large amounts of bandwidth
* [[T0rnkit]], also distributed by intruders using six different versions of rootkit;<ref>[http://www.cert.org/incident_notes/IN-2000-10.html Cert Incident Note IN-2000-10]</ref>
#Fragmentation Attacks: sending so many TCP or UDP fragments that the target cannot assemble them, which slows the system
* [[W/32/Sircam]], an e-mail-borne virus;<ref>
#Application Attacks: trying to flood one aspect or application on a given site
[http://www.us-cert.gov/reading_room/home-network-security/#III-B-1 Home Network Security]</ref>
* [[Leaves]], which was capable of updating and changing its functionality during a hack, affected millions of internet users in five Chinese provinces when an unknown hacker attacked the the server of [[DNSPod]], a Chinese domain name registrar in 2009;<ref>[http://news.softpedia.com/news/DDoS-Attack-Leaves-Five-Chinese-Provinces-Without-Internet-112313.shtml DDoS Attack Leaves Five Chinese Provinces Without Internet]</ref>
as well as many other viruses and worms distributed by hackers to cripple computer networks in homes and organizations.


[[Network Solutions]] spokesperson [[Shashi Bellamkonda]] reported that the company experienced a consecutive DDoS attacks on June 20-21, 2011 wherein its costumers were unable to access the server and e-mail and the website became unstable. The company resolved the problem as quickly as possible.<ref>[http://dos-attacks.com/2011/06/22/network-solutions-bounces-back-after-ddos/ Network Solutions Bounces Back After DDoS]</ref>
*A DDoS attack can be bought or traded as a service. For example, an attack that lasts a week can be purchased for $150,<ref name="attack map"/> while an attack that lasts 1 hour can be bought for $30-70.<ref>[http://www.trendmicro.com/cloud-content/us/pdfs/security-intelligence/white-papers/wp-russian-underground-101.pdf Russian Underground 101] (PDF) by Max Goncharov, TrendMicro.com</ref>


==Packet Flooding Attack==
*In addition to causing service errors, DDoS attacks can also be used to commit "other cybercrimes, including data breaches or financial fraud."<ref>[https://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/techexec/2013/101113bestpractices.html?page=2 Best practices to mitigate DDoS attacks] by Linda Musthaler (January 10, 2013), Network World</ref>
The Packet Flooding Attack is the most common type of Denial of Service Attack. The modus operandi of intruders is sending more than acceptable number of packets to a particular destination which consumes the entire bandwidth resources. There are several types of packets used by Packet Flooding Attack tools, including:
* [[TCP]] Floods - SYN, ACK and RST flags are sent to the victim's [[IP]] Address
* [[ICMP]] echo request reply (Ping Floods) - A stream of ICMP is sent to the victim's IP Address
* [[UDP]] Floods - A stream of UDP is sent to the victim's IP Address


These attack tools change the characteristics of packets in the packet stream. For example, the Source IP Address is changed to hide the real source of the packet stream. The method of sending packet streams to one or more intermediate sites to create responses that will be sent to a victim is called IP Spoofing.<ref>[http://www.iss.net/security_center/advice/Underground/Hacking/Methods/Technical/Spoofing/default.htm Spoofing]</ref> Other packet stream attributes that are altered by intruders are the Source/Destination Ports and Other IP Header Values.
==ICANN Policy==
*ICANN does not have a policy that specifically addresses DDoS attacks; however, ICANN's blog has addressed the issue of how to respond to and report a DDoS attack.<ref name="blog">[http://blog.icann.org/2013/04/how-to-report-a-ddos-attack/ How to Report a DDoS Attack] by Dave Piscitello (April 25, 2013), Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).</ref> If a site is under attack, the 2013 post suggests that the registrant contacts the hosting provider and internet service provider (ISP).<ref name="blog"/> If the attack was proceeded by a threat or a sum of money was demanded to stop the attack, the registrant should contact law enforcement.<ref name="blog"/>


==Frequent Targets of Intruder Attacks==
*ICANN's Security and Stability Advisory Committee ([[SSAC]]) also released an advisory in 2006 on DDoS attacks in relation to the DNS.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/groups/ssac/dns-ddos-advisory-31mar06-en.pdf SSAC Advisory SAC008: DNS Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks] (PDF), ICANN Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC)</ref>
According to the CERT report, "Trends in Denial Service Attack Technology," the most frequent targets are Windows end-users and Internet Routing Technology. An intruder's primary intention in conducting DoS attack is to prevent the use of computer or network resources. A computer controlled by a hacker is known as "zombie" or "bot," while a controlled computer network is referred as a "botnet" or "zombie army."<ref>[http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/distributed-denial-of-service-attack Distributed Denial of Service Attack (DDoS)]</ref>


==Reasons Why Internet is Vulnerable to Attacks==
*ICANN's [[SSAC]] released another advisory in 2014 on DDoS attacks and how they may exploit certain security issues in the DNS.<ref name="s">[http://www.icann.org/en/groups/ssac/documents/sac-065-en.pdf SSAC Advisory on DDoS Attacks Leveraging DNS Infrastructure] (PDF), ICANN Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC)</ref> For example, an attacker may use a victim's spoofed IP address to make multiple queries to an open recursive DNS server; the server will then respond by flooding the victim's computer with the unsolicited responses.<ref name="sing">[http://singapore49.icann.org/en/schedule/thu-ssac SSAC's Update Presentation at ICANN 49] (PDF and audio)</ref> DDoS attacks that utilize "DNS reflection and amplification" can have "attack data bit rates reportedly exceeding 300 gigabits per second."<ref name="sing"/> The advisory suggests that "ICANN should...facilitate an Internet-wide community effort to reduce the number of open resolvers and networks that allow network spoofing."<ref name="s"/> Additionally, rate limiting and blocking abusive queries may help reduce DDoS attacks.<ref name="sing"/> The SSAC also recommends that DNS software and systems be updated regularly to reduce DDoS vulnerability.<ref name="sing"/>  
Internet-connected systems are still vulnerable to DoS attacks despite active security efforts because of the following reasons:
**Read the [http://www.icann.org/en/groups/ssac/documents/sac-065-en.pdf SSAC's Advisory on DDoS Attacks Leveraging DNS Infrastructure]
* The Internet is composed of limited and consumable resources
**View the [http://singapore49.icann.org/en/schedule/thu-ssac SSAC's Presentation at ICANN 49]
* Internet security is highly interdependent<ref>[http://www.cert.org/homeusers/ddos.html Trends in Denial Service Attack Technology]</ref>


==Frequency of DDoS Attacks==
==Legislation==
According to Ted Swearingen, Director of Security Operations at [[Neustar]], as much as 7,000 DDoS attacks may occur in one day. He also said that the rate of attacks continue to increase every year. He explained that the escalating incidences of DDoS attacks is largely due to the fact that the tools used to launch attacks has become common and easier to create.<ref>[http://www.circleid.com/posts/protecting_your_business_from_ddos_attacks_advice_from_neustar/ Protecting Your Business from DDoS Attacks: Advice from Neustar]</ref>
*[[Computer Fraud and Abuse Act]] (CFAA): this act, last amended in 2008,<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_Fraud_and_Abuse_Act Computer Fraud and Abuse Act] at Wikipedia</ref> prohibits the unauthorized use of another person's computer, among other things.<ref>[https://ilt.eff.org/index.php/Computer_Fraud_and_Abuse_Act_%28CFAA%29 Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA)] at Internet Law Treatise</ref><ref>[http://us.practicallaw.com/2-508-3428 Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA)] at Practical Law, Thomson Reuters</ref> In relation to DDoS attacks, if the hacker used a botnet to perpetrate the attack, he or she could be charged under CFAA in addition to facing civil suits.<ref>[http://us.practicallaw.com/7-516-9293 Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Attack] at Practical Law, Thomson Reuters</ref> DDoS attackers can also face jail time.<ref name="naked">[http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2010/12/09/are-ddos-distributed-denial-of-service-attacks-against-the-law/ Are DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) attacks against the law?] by Graham Cluley (December 9, 2010), Naked Security, Sophos</ref>
**Read more about the [https://ilt.eff.org/index.php/Computer_Fraud_and_Abuse_Act_%28CFAA%29 CFAA].


==Neustar SiteProtect DDoS Protection==
*Other nations, such as the UK and Sweden, also have anti-DDoS legislature.<ref name="naked"/>
On April 2011, [[Neustar]] launched '''SiteProtect''', a cloud based service which aims to provide higher level of security for UltraDNS customers against Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. SiteProtect enables web infrastructures to function normally and avoids downtime even if it is under attack. The combination of SiteProtect and UltraDNS provide consumers with a strong protection for the Domain Name System ([[DNS]]) and web traffic, protecting business owners from possible revenue loss. According to Rick Rumbarger, Product Management Senior Director of Neustar Internet Infrastructure Services, ''"The problem with other approaches to DDoS protection is that the network needs to take a hit before mitigation is started. With SiteProtect, the brunt of the attack is immediately shifted away from the client infrastructure and directed to our mitigation cloud service. By moving this service to the cloud, customers no longer have to buy and maintain large capacity infrastructure with its resulting capex expenses."'' <ref>[http://www.circleid.com/posts/20110405_neustar_launches_siteprotect_for_ddos_protection/ Neustar Launches SiteProtect for DDoS Protection]</ref>


==Verisign UpTime Bundle==
==DNS Award==
In March 2011, '''Verisign''' introduced '''Verisign Uptime Bundle''', a cloud-based services bundled with Domain Name System (DNS) hosting, threat intelligence services and protection against DDoS attacks. The new service helps improve the performance, security and availability of websites, email, and critical network services. Ben Petro, senior vice president of the Verisign Network Intelligence and Availability business explained that a single line of defense against DDoS attacks is no longer reliable to ensure the availability of website and applications. He said that Verisign's Uptime Bundle is a muti-layered solution and offers the best way to detect and disarm an attack before substantial losses occur. <ref>[http://www.circleid.com/posts/20110328_verisign_uptime_bundle_combines_ddos_protection_managed_dns/ New Verisign Uptime Bundle Combines DDoS Protection, Managed DNS and Threat Intelligence Services]</ref>
Awardees take a proactive approach to preventing DDoS attacks.  
 
==Additional Resources==
*Review facts and watch a video explaining [http://www.digitalattackmap.com/understanding-ddos/ DDoS Attacks]
*View a [http://www.digitalattackmap.com/#anim=1&color=0&country=ALL&time=16097&view=map DDoS Attack Map]
*Read the [http://www.icann.org/en/groups/ssac/dns-ddos-advisory-31mar06-en.pdf SSAC's DDoS Advisory]
*See [http://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/tips/ST04-015 CERT's Security Tips Page] for signs that indicate you may be experiencing a DDoS attack
*View a [http://www.circleid.com/posts/20140318_what_does_a_ddos_attack_look_like/ Visualization of a DDOS Attack]
*Listen to the [http://singapore49.icann.org/en/schedule/thu-ssac SSAC's Presentation at ICANN Singapore] that addresses DDoS attacks and recommendations
 
==Related Articles==
*[[Botnet Attacks]]
*[[DoS Attack]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
<references/>


[[Category:Glossary]]


__NOTOC__
[[Category:DNS Abuse]]
[[Category:Featured]]

Latest revision as of 17:42, 28 February 2022

Distributed Denial of Service Attacks, or DDoS Attacks, effectively flood websites or servers with traffic from many different sources in order to "make the site unavailable."[1] DDoS is a type of Denial of Service Attack (DoS Attack) that uses multiple sources in order to blocks users from accessing the site. It is important to remember that not all service errors are the result of attack behaviors and can occur if a website is overwhelmed by non-malicious traffic as well.[2]

DNSSEC-enabled DDoS Attacks[edit | edit source]

"Poorly configured DNSSEC servers at root of DDoS attacks," says Neustar's Joe Loveless.[3]

Public Perception[edit | edit source]

The public perception of DDoS attacks is negative. It is inconvenient to users who cannot reach their destination, and it can create major problems for the website's registrant, whether it is the website of an individual or an organization. DDoS attacks can become criminal when the attacker asks for money to stop the current attack or to prevent further attacks.[4] DDoS attacks can also be used by "hacktivists" for political gain, to interrupt free speech, or in protest of perceived injustice.[1][4]

Outcome[edit | edit source]

The outcome of a DDoS attack is that the attacked website is unavailable or runs very slowly. The damage done by these attacks can lead to minor inconveniences, losses in consumer confidence, or large revenue losses.

Historical Use[edit | edit source]

  • DDoS attacks have been used to take down or interrupt the traffic of large sites, making them inaccessible.[5][6] These planned attacks can be committed for political, social, and/or illegal purposes.[4] Unlike regular DoS attacks, DDoS attacks use multiple computers to attack their victims which often makes the attack harder to stop.[5] Botnets, or networks of computers controlled by hackers, are often used in DDoS attacks.[7]
  • Four types of DDoS attacks include:[1]
  1. TCP Connection Attacks: attempting "to use up all the available connections to infrastructure devices"[1]
  2. Volumetric Attacks: attempting to use large amounts of bandwidth
  3. Fragmentation Attacks: sending so many TCP or UDP fragments that the target cannot assemble them, which slows the system
  4. Application Attacks: trying to flood one aspect or application on a given site
  • A DDoS attack can be bought or traded as a service. For example, an attack that lasts a week can be purchased for $150,[1] while an attack that lasts 1 hour can be bought for $30-70.[8]
  • In addition to causing service errors, DDoS attacks can also be used to commit "other cybercrimes, including data breaches or financial fraud."[9]

ICANN Policy[edit | edit source]

  • ICANN does not have a policy that specifically addresses DDoS attacks; however, ICANN's blog has addressed the issue of how to respond to and report a DDoS attack.[4] If a site is under attack, the 2013 post suggests that the registrant contacts the hosting provider and internet service provider (ISP).[4] If the attack was proceeded by a threat or a sum of money was demanded to stop the attack, the registrant should contact law enforcement.[4]
  • ICANN's Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC) also released an advisory in 2006 on DDoS attacks in relation to the DNS.[10]
  • ICANN's SSAC released another advisory in 2014 on DDoS attacks and how they may exploit certain security issues in the DNS.[11] For example, an attacker may use a victim's spoofed IP address to make multiple queries to an open recursive DNS server; the server will then respond by flooding the victim's computer with the unsolicited responses.[12] DDoS attacks that utilize "DNS reflection and amplification" can have "attack data bit rates reportedly exceeding 300 gigabits per second."[12] The advisory suggests that "ICANN should...facilitate an Internet-wide community effort to reduce the number of open resolvers and networks that allow network spoofing."[11] Additionally, rate limiting and blocking abusive queries may help reduce DDoS attacks.[12] The SSAC also recommends that DNS software and systems be updated regularly to reduce DDoS vulnerability.[12]

Legislation[edit | edit source]

  • Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA): this act, last amended in 2008,[13] prohibits the unauthorized use of another person's computer, among other things.[14][15] In relation to DDoS attacks, if the hacker used a botnet to perpetrate the attack, he or she could be charged under CFAA in addition to facing civil suits.[16] DDoS attackers can also face jail time.[17]
    • Read more about the CFAA.
  • Other nations, such as the UK and Sweden, also have anti-DDoS legislature.[17]

DNS Award[edit | edit source]

Awardees take a proactive approach to preventing DDoS attacks.

Additional Resources[edit | edit source]

Related Articles[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 What is a DDoS Attack?, Digital Attack Map
  2. ↑ Security Tip (ST04-015): Understanding Denial-of-Service Attacks (February 6, 2013), United States Department of Homeland Security
  3. ↑ Fahmida Y. Rashid, InfoWorld
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 How to Report a DDoS Attack by Dave Piscitello (April 25, 2013), Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 How to Prevent DoS Attacks by Aaron Weiss (July 2, 2012), eSecurity Planet
  6. ↑ Do More to Prevent DNS DDoS Attacks by Dave Piscitello (April 3, 2013), Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)
  7. ↑ What is DDoS denial of service? What everyone needs to know about DDoS, Prolexic
  8. ↑ Russian Underground 101 (PDF) by Max Goncharov, TrendMicro.com
  9. ↑ Best practices to mitigate DDoS attacks by Linda Musthaler (January 10, 2013), Network World
  10. ↑ SSAC Advisory SAC008: DNS Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks (PDF), ICANN Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC)
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 SSAC Advisory on DDoS Attacks Leveraging DNS Infrastructure (PDF), ICANN Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC)
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 SSAC's Update Presentation at ICANN 49 (PDF and audio)
  13. ↑ Computer Fraud and Abuse Act at Wikipedia
  14. ↑ Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) at Internet Law Treatise
  15. ↑ Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) at Practical Law, Thomson Reuters
  16. ↑ Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Attack at Practical Law, Thomson Reuters
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Are DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) attacks against the law? by Graham Cluley (December 9, 2010), Naked Security, Sophos

Security and Stability Advisory Committee. Advises the ICANN community and Board on matters relating to the security and integrity of the Internet's naming and address allocation systems (ICANN Bylaws).

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