DoS Attacks: How to Prevent Them

Server attacks can be devastating, and DoS, or denial of service, attacks are some of the most common. Under this method of attack, a server can easily be crashed and hard drives even overloaded and destroyed. However, just like with any form of server attack, there are ways of protecting the server or network against a DoS attack and this guide will provide some helpful tips for preventing a DoS attack.

A DoS attack can come in many forms. Similar to a battlefield (and after any experience with the internet, it becomes readily clear that it in itself is a constant war against spammers and hackers), knowing the enemy is a valuable tool and can help one to defeat it. So, here are the basics of what someone needs to know about a denial of service attack. In a DoS attack, usually a data packet is sent to the server or network. This packet is usually fragmented and designed to exploit certain kinds of vulnerabilities in the server's software. For instance, a nuke attack sends a fragmented packet which triggers a bug in the operating system and crashes the computer. Other DoS attacks work in similar fashions however they can target CPU's, RAM, disk space, bandwith, server information, or even critical software and hardware components.

The most effective way to combat DoS attacks are to know the ins and outs of the server and how it is configured. A document should be kept at all times with all of the configuration information so that in the case where information could have been changed under certain types of DoS attacks, one can run through the files and look for any changes that have been made and quickly remedy them. Also, some registry fixes can be made to maximize the server's ability to thwart potential DoS attacks. Keep in mind that it is important to backup the registry prior to making any changes.

The following registry key settings can be implemented to enable protection against DoS attacks: