Is It Possible to Prevent a DoS Attack?
When DoS Attacks Are Concerned, Hackers Still Have an Advantage
No matter how much technologies advance, the truth is that still there is no way to protect a site against Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. However, there are many ways in which it is possible at least to try to minimize the damage when the inevitable comes. The different types of DoS attacks require different protection measures but still there are some common rules that are always safe to follow.
Choose a Secure Hosting Company
Many of the steps to defend a site against Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are in the hands of the web hosting company, rather than the webmaster of the site. Choosing reliable routers and maintaining them properly, as well as providing operating system level of protection are all tasks the web hosting company should do. This is why it is really important to know how to choose a reliable web hosting provider.
Install the Required Patches and Updates
Since many of the Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks rely on weaknesses in the TCP/IP protocol or on other software vulnerabilities, it is important to have one's system always updated with the latest patches.
Generally, it is the webhosting provider who is responsible that the latest patches are installed but a webmaster also must make sure that he or she has installed the patches he or she is responsible for. Even if a patch is not a defense against a Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack, it is a defense against another type of exploit.
Regularly Backup (At Least) Critical Data
Similarly to patches, backups are webmaster's best friend. It is true that the purpose of a DoS attack is not to destroy data but still a recent backup is never useless. Sometimes it might be easier to restore a system from a backup in alternative, hacker-free location, than to deal with the consequences of a Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack.
Get Enough Bandwidth
This is maybe the most important step a webmaster can take in order to minimize the risks of a devastating Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack. It is true that bandwidth is never enough and no matter how much bandwidth a site has, hackers have times more of it but still low bandwidth is an invitation for Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks.
Scan the Computers, so that They Can't be Used for a DDoS
The fact that in many countries Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are illegal doesn't stop hackers from initiating such attacks, so it is up to users to make their best and try to prevent such attacks.
If more companies and individuals had the habit to regularly scan their machines and discover malware in a timely manner, many DDoS attacks wouldn't have been that devastating. When machines can't be used as tools for a DDoS, this might not stop hackers from trying but certainly will make it more difficult for them to succeed!
Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are really a serious thread and if adequate measures are not taken, the results are pretty severe. DoS and DDoS attacks might be difficult to prevent but this is not a reason not to try to!
Reliable Equipment Prevents DoS Attack Damage
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