Re:Reddit is currently experiencing a malicious DDoS attack
by josteink on Friday April 19, 2013 @09:33AM
(#5576534)
Getting a slashdotting is not a "DDOS attack" under any definition although the practical consequence is the same. If the resulting traffic overload is caused by a (massive) router-configuration error or similar mishaps, it's also by definition not an attack.
Sorry about being picky around semantics, but still: No point in throwing words around to the point where they become completely pointless.
Re:Reddit is currently experiencing a malicious DDoS attack
by smoyer on Friday April 19, 2013 @10:04AM
(#5576676)
Well ... It's definitely a DDOS but you're right about the attack part.
Re:Reddit is currently experiencing a malicious DDoS attack
by Retric on Friday April 19, 2013 @10:33AM
(#5576822)
There is no inherent requirement that attacks need to be intentional. It's possible for a software glitch to launch a missile attack. Attack: An aggressive and violent action against a person or place
The best example off the top of my head was a D-Link firmware update which added an NTP server operated by a third party for "public use." This wound up increasing the NTP server's traffic by 90% and costing them over $8K/year in additional bandwidth fees. See [1].
Then you have so called "slashdotting." Or linking to a small web-site with an interesting story and overloading it with legitimate traffic until it goes down. See [2].
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NTP_server_misuse_and_abuse#D-L...
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slashdot_effect