Cyber-security is one of the most important topics being discussed all around the world because of the evolving digital landscape. The attempts of cyber-attacks are increasing day by day and necessary prevention measures need to be opter for, in time.
One of the best things considered by the people for staying safe online is VPNs. But is there any way a VPN might protect you against DDoS attacks, which are frightening and annoying at the same time?
Follow this article to learn all you need to know.
Table of Contents
What Is a DDoS Attack?
A “DDoS” (distributed denial of service) is a cyber-attack that is considered to be one of the most complex cyberattacks to prevent. As the name “DDoS” itself suggests a denial of service, it is focused on disturbing the network with spam traffic causing network services unavailable or inaccessible. In short, when a DDoS attack happens, all the services available over a network go offline.
A DDoS attack uses botnets, which is why it is almost impossible to track the point or sever, from where it was generated. These botnets flood a high volume of traffic and server requests, causing the servers to crash by failing to handle the extreme influx.
Hackers’ goals in committing DDoS attacks are to flood a network with unwanted requests and traffic. Subsequently, a site can’t handle the influx any further, preventing legitimate traffic from coming through.
Types of DDoS Attacks
DDoS attacks are commonly used by hackers in one of three ways:
Volume-based attacks
This is the most common DDoS attack type and its goal is to consume all bandwidth between you and a web server. If successful, you’ll be forced offline. A volume-based attack is measured in bits per second (Bps).
Protocol attacks
Protocol attacks force networks offline by consuming server resources. This type of DDoS-ing is measured in packets per second (Pps).
Application-layer attacks
They flood web servers with legitimate requests until they crash. These attacks are measured in requests per second (Rps).
Do VPNs Protect from DDoS Attacks?
Yes! A secure VPN provider such as Astrill vpn or Expressvpn can save you from DDoS attacks.
A VPN masks the IP addresses of users and encrypts their traffic. Because of this masking and encryption, the DDoS attack botnets can’t locate the exact location of your network, making you safe from them.
Also the encrypted traffic by your VPN creates a secure tunnel between your computer and network server, protecting your privacy and making you anonymous.
However, a VPN cannot help you if a hacker has the exact IP address of your system already. Also, there are certain cases in which the hackers have tried to target the IP addresses of the VPN companies itself.
So choose a VPN company that has strong security protocols because in case the company has a pooe DDoS attack protection, then you can be a victim of DDoS attack despite having a VPN.
In addition, if you are connecting a VPN, after you have been attacked by a DDoS, then a VPN cannot help you. However, if you are connected to a VPN already, and then someone tries to DDoS attack your network then the chances of being safe are way higher.
How a DDoS Attacks Works?
A DDoS attack is when a hacker or a whole group of hackers attempt to overload the network of the target with high volume of unwanted traffic and system requests. This high influx disturbs the network operation and the servers crash, making the services over the network impossible to access. A DDoS attacks blocks access to the following things:
- Servers
- Devices
- Services
- Networks
- Applications
- Specific transactions within applications
The DDoS attack overloads the systems with requests for data. This can include bombarding a web server with so many requests to provide a page that it fails, or flooding a database with queries. As a result, the internet bandwidth, CPU, and RAM capacity are all used up.
Features a VPN SHould Have to Protect Users against DDoS
- AES 256-bit Military-grade encryption.
- A wide range of routers.
- NAT Firewall
- A gaming server with ultra-fast web speeds
- DPI protections.
- P2P file sharing
- Kill Switch
Who is at Risk of a DDoS Attack?
A simpler answer would be that anyone having an unsecured network would be at risk of a DDoS attack. However, there are Three types of people that are more likely to be DDoS attacked:
Streamers
As noticed on many Reddit threads, DDoS attacks were reported by large and small streams, as well as their moderators. The streamer may be DDoS-ed day after day, preventing them from streaming at all. There is a large number of online streamers that use a VPN to unblock various streaming platforms.
If they have connected to a VPN before being DDoS attack was in place then they will remain safe. Otherwise a VPN cannot protect them at all.
Gamers
DDoS attacks are a common thing in the gaming industry. Enraged players have been known to DDoS other players simply for “disrespecting” them. Many Reddit threads exist where individuals complained about being DDoSed by their peers while gaming. DDoS attacks appear to be common in highly competitive online games like League of Legends, Fortnite, or Apex Legends.
Business
Businesses are also a victim of DDoS attacks, mainly becuse hackers either target them to disrupt their services and sometime to hack into their data. This is why large business firms have now started taking cybersecurity seruouly and sppecialized cybersecurity consultants have been hired by them.
