What is the result of a DDoS attack?

A DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack aims to disrupt the normal functioning of a targeted server, service, or network by overwhelming it with a flood of internet traffic. In this scenario, multiple compromised systems—often part of a botnet—send a high volume of requests to the target, consuming its resources and bandwidth.

When this happens, the server is unable to process legitimate requests from actual users. As a result, users experience service degradation or denial of service, meaning they may not be able to access the affected website or online service at all. This overwhelming of resources leads to downtime, frustrating legitimate users and damaging the reputation of the service provider.

In contrast, while data theft and malware installation can be serious issues in the realm of cybersecurity, they are not the primary results of a DDoS attack. The core purpose of such an attack is to render services unavailable rather than to gain access to data or devices.