Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science

Which statement best describes a DDoS attack?

1. It secures a server against breaches

2. It creates a lot of requests to overload a server

3. It encrypts data sent to a server

4. It isolates a user from accessing services

The correct answer is: It creates a lot of requests to overload a server

A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack is characterized by an overwhelming number of requests sent to a server, which ultimately aims to overload it and disrupt service. This occurs when multiple compromised systems, often part of a botnet, flood the targeted server with excessive traffic. As a result, legitimate users may be unable to access the services provided by the server due to this overwhelming volume of requests, which can cause slowdowns or complete outages. Understanding the nature of a DDoS attack helps to clarify its primary impact: it disrupts the server's normal operation rather than securing it, encrypting data, or isolating individual users. The goal is not to breach security or protect data, but rather to undermine the availability of a service by saturating the server's capacity to handle incoming traffic.