A denial of service (DoS) attack is an attempt to prevent legitimate users from accessing a computer or network by bombarding the target with so many requests that the system stops responding. An example of a DoS attack is flooding a network’s firewall with requests for entry from a multitude of IP addresses preventing legitimate traffic from entering the network. The firewall is so consumed with preventing the illegitimate IP addresses from entering the network that the legitimate traffic is caught up in the line with the other IP addresses and has to wait to be admitted beyond the firewall. This line of IP addresses will continue to grow until the network stops accepting traffic all together.
Why does this happen? In the hacker community, being able to disrupt a network or deny service to Internet users is seen as a point of pride and bragging rights. DoS attacks on the networks of corporations, large and small, and institutions of higher education occur all the time.
To prevent such attacks, network teams adjust firewall settings to prevent the attacker from attempting the same attack in the future. They also block the IP addresses the hacker used to flood the network. Unfortunately, hackers attempt these attacks all the time and will change their tactics to attempt the attack from a different route.
The CTC IT Division advises all CTC employees and students to be vigilant about computer security and to notify the IT Division immediately if you suspect a security breach.
Send mail to help.desk@ctcd.edu with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2006 Central Texas College Information Technology Division
Telephone (254)501-3103
FAX (254)526-1950
P.O. Box 1800, Killeen, TX 76540-1800