Signs of a DDoS Attack: How to Detect the Threat in Time

In cybersecurity, much like the Wild West, distinct roles exist: “white hats” represent the defenders of cybersecurity, while “black hats” symbolize cybercriminals. And just as a revolver was the weapon of choice in a Western, in cybersecurity, the DDoS attack (Distributed Denial of Service) is the go-to tool for the bad guys.

In both cases, the damage can be swift and severe. However, there is a crucial difference: unlike a bullet, a DDoS attack can be detected and halted in time.

Why Speed Matters

The quicker you can detect a threat, the harder it is for attackers to succeed. Rapid detection of an attack can prevent serious consequences for the business, minimizing downtime for an application or website.

There are two common scenarios:

1. DDoS Attack Detected in Time. If you notice unusual activity on your site, it’s essential to quickly review the rules and signatures on your Web Application Firewall (WAF) and adjust settings if needed. Even this simple step can help fend off an emerging attack;
2. DDoS Attack Already in Progress. If your resource is already down, it’s still important to deploy DDoS protection from a specialized provider. Although losses can’t be avoided, you’ll be able to restore your website or application’s functionality more quickly.

In both scenarios, time is critical — often measured in hours or even minutes. At stake are not only financial costs but also the reputation of the entire company.

Signs of a DDoS Attack: The Classics and Beyond

A DDoS attack often reveals itself through several telltale signs, including:

• Unusual Traffic Spikes. A sudden surge in visitors to your site, an unexpected increase in user registrations, or a sharp rise in file downloads could all indicate a DDoS attack if there are no legitimate reasons for these changes;
• Changes in User Geography. Suppose your company operates in the Moscow region, and your site primarily attracts local visitors. If you suddenly see a spike in traffic from distant locations like Khabarovsk or Angola, this could be a sign of a DDoS attack;
• Performance Degradation. One of the most noticeable indicators is a sudden slowdown in site performance, longer page load times, or an increase in connection errors.

These are classic signs of a DDoS attack, but there may be additional clues, such as increased traffic on specific ports, malfunctioning site features, or incorrect content displays.

Staying Alert: How to Detect a DDoS Attack

Detecting a DDoS attack is easier if your company has a solid DDoS monitoring system in place. In practice, this often comes down to manual checks. While routine procedures can be time-consuming, they do help detect anomalies on the site or application in time.

Manual monitoring typically includes:

• Reviewing Server Logs. Analyzing logs can help identify suspicious IP addresses and unusual patterns in requests;
• Monitoring Performance Metrics. Specialists track page load speeds and the availability of critical site elements using traditional traffic analysis tools like Google Analytics. Such tools can reveal traffic spikes, unusual geographic sources, and other key indicators.

Automated monitoring can significantly simplify the detection process by using specialized tools like WAF (Web Application Firewalls). These tools regularly monitor traffic quality, filter suspicious requests, and often come with built-in alert systems to notify you of potential threats.

Additional Protective Measures

When it comes to DDoS attacks, backup plans are crucial. Here are some additional steps you can take to prevent or mitigate potential threats:

• Caching. During a DDoS attack, server loads increase, but caching can help prevent performance from dropping to critical levels;
• Using a CDN (Content Delivery Network). A CDN distributes the load across multiple servers around the world, making it harder for a DDoS attack to succeed;
• Code Optimization. Reducing vulnerabilities in your application or site lowers the risk of being targeted by a DDoS attack;
• Physical Traffic Restriction.This simple but effective method involves blocking requests from specific regions, denying access from certain IP addresses, or limiting the number of requests from a single source within a given timeframe.

Finally, it’s always better to work with a specialized DDoS protection provider and develop a Disaster Recovery Plan in advance — a plan to restore critical infrastructure after an emergency. This plan should include data backups and a clear action plan for restoring your site or application in case of a severe DDoS attack.

Conclusion

In the Wild West, spotting trouble from afar is useful, but survival often depends on having a revolver by your side — along with a trusty partner, some bandages, and a bottle of gin to keep going.

The same goes for defending against DDoS attacks. You need a well-rounded approach: the ability to detect threats early, plus the right tools and services to protect your web resources — especially when your company’s success is on the line.