A denial of service (DoS) attack is a type of cyber attack that aims to block users from accessing their systems by flooding the device or network with excessive traffic, leading to system delays and crashes. Unlike most cybercrimes, the primary objective is to create disruption and chaos rather than accessing or corrupting data.
To paralyze a system, an attacker inundates a device or network with numerous requests, halting regular traffic and rendering automated systems and users unable to carry out their functions. Recovering from such an attack can be time-consuming and resource-intensive, leading to financial losses and harming brand reputation.