A DDoS, or Distributed Denial of Service, is an attempt to make a resource unavailable to its users. It can be done in different ways by overloading a network or a server or by acting over a specific service. In this way, these kinds of attacks usually lead to a complete denial of the service. Usually, DDoS attacks are launched from compromised devices forming a botnet.
Consequently, a DDoS might result in an unavailability of the server, either for specific or undefined time. The server, service, or network can be aimed at in these malicious attempts to disrupt normal functioning. As far as internet traffic overtakes all the. Internet traffic then moves on to be used in the overpowering flood that is used. These botnets can be remotely controlled by an attacker to coordinate attacks against a specific target.
Mechanics of a DDoS attacks
DDoS attacks are much like a traffic jam that prevent the legitimate user from getting to services. The attackers send a high number of requests to the target server, resulting in being slow or completely unavailable. The complexity in such an attack is due to the fact that it is distributed. So, inasmuch as the traffic is coming from many IP addresses, it becomes very hard to filter attack traffic from legitimate traffic. DDoS attacks can take several common forms:
- Volumetric attacks: The idea behind this attack, which is to drown the target by a large volume of data, is ultimately an attempt to saturate the target’s available bandwidth. The routing infrastructure can be heavily impaired by this attack, as it becomes incapable of carrying through ordinary requests.
- Protocol attacks: These are attacks on the server that use vulnerabilities in the network protocols (usually layer 3 and layer 4 in the OSI model) to deplete server resources or disrupt service.
- Application layer attacks: These application layer attacks are known as Layer 7 attacks in the classification of OSI, rendering them hard to detect and mitigate. These attacks can mimic regular traffic; as such, servers will be flooded with requests that look normal but are huge in number.
DDoS attacks expose companies to the risk of significant losses, clouded reputation, and even disruption of operations; as such, there is a need for organizations to put in place strong defense mechanisms.
The cyberattack on X while Musk was giving an interview to Trump
The much-anticipated interview between Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump disintegrated on August 12, 2024, on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, after very big technical difficulties. Musk said these were due to an enormous DDoS attack, with these words: “Overwhelmed all of our data lines.” The interview, which was supposed to be for “open-minded independent voters,” came late 40 minutes after the set time, frustrating many users trying to access the stream.
Details of the incident
Musk tweeted that “massive DDoS attack the reason for the technical difficulties” was announced to be ongoing after reports started flooding in regarding the streaming issues. This was not the first time such cyber incidents have struck an important event on X going live. For example, the presidential campaign kickoff in May 2023 by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was also plagued by reports of streaming issues.
Throughout the interview that finally started, Musk stated that the DDoS attack emanated from political opposition triggered by the message of Trump in the United States. What was at stake and who initiated the attack is not yet known. Commentators stated that DDoS attacks typically involve trying to impact more than one service, possibly leading to complexities in the recovery mechanisms.
Implications arising from the attack
This episode of the DDoS attack against X on its part questions the security of online platforms, especially in times of the most determining period in an electoral process. Since it allows for most political debate to move into a social media-driven realm, it all starts raising questions about security in the event that a cyberattack should affect communication and change public perceptions.
Musk’s comments through the interview show how sessions using platforms such as X pose huge difficulties, especially where the cyber environment is very volatile. This incident thus calls for subjected cybersecurity standards against such interruptions that are very common, especially in politics as the situation evolves and winds upheavals.
