DDoS attacks can be very annoying. They force you offline and can occur at any time. A VPN is recommended by some online articles, but is it really effective? Is a VPN effective in stopping DDoS attacks?
While it doesn’t stop them completely, it can offer protection against cyber attacks. This article will show you how and answer your other questions.
We recommend that you read our complete guide to find the best anti-DDoS VPN. NordVPN is our top pick if you need it in a hurry.
What is a DDoS Attack?
DDoS stands to Distributed Denial Of Service. This is a cyberattack that takes you offline for up to an hour. Cybercriminals are known for targeting businesses with DDoS attacks. DDoS hackers are not limited to gamers and streamers.
Although it can be difficult to determine if you are dealing with DDoS attacks, there are signs to look out for.
- The site you are trying to access won’t load.
- You cannot connect to any website.
- Long-term Internet connectivity drops frequently
- Your network is unusually slow
- Access to remote and local files is very slow.
- Spam emails are a lot.
It doesn’t necessarily mean that you are being DDoSed if you have one or two of these things happen to you. If they occur frequently or persist for more than a few hours, then it is likely that you are being DDoS-ed.
DDoS vs. DoS Attacks
DoS stands to Denial of Service and is a weaker version of DDoS attacks. A DoS attack is not as disruptive as a DDoS attack. It will cause slowdowns and even force you offline for a few hours or a few minutes.
What is a DDoS attack?
DDoS attacks overwhelm networks by flooding them with unwelcome traffic. This is done using a network of computers called a botnet. Hackers infect computers with malware to add them to the network.
Today, almost anyone can rent an automated botnet to attack the deep internet. Prices start at $10 per hour. A DDoS-er does not need to be skilled in cybercriminal work to force you offline.
DDoS Attacks
Hackers use the following types of DDoS attacks:
- Volume-based attacks – This is the most popular DDoS attack and it aims to consume all bandwidth between your computer and a web server. If you are successful, you will be forced offline. Volume-based attacks are measured in bits per second, or Bps.
- Protocol attacks – protocol attacks take down networks by consuming server resources. This form of DDoSing is measured in packets per seconds (Pps).
- Application layer attacks – They flood web servers with legitimate request until they crash. These attacks are measured by requests per second (Rps).
Who Would Not Want to DoS You?
Most people will live their entire lives without ever being DDoS-ed. If you are a streamer or gamer, it is likely that you will be DDoS-ed at some point.
Gaming is a common subject of DDoSing. In fact, some players will do this just to “disrespect” other players. Reddit has a lot of threads complaining about being DDoSed while gaming. It seems that DDoSing is a common problem in online games with high competition, such as League of Legends or Fortnite.
We also found numerous Reddit threads in which large and small streamers, and mods, complained about DDoS-ing. Sometimes streamers might be DDoS-ed repeatedly, preventing them from streaming at all.
Sometimes, cybercriminals might also DDoS small businesses or freelancers. A freelancer cannot work without internet access. DDoS-ing also stops small businesses placing orders or accepting credit cards.
Can a VPN prevent DDoS attacks?
A VPN can be used to stop DDoS attacks. This is an online service that hides the IP address of your computer from other internet users. Your IP address is what prevents DDoS attacks on your network. They’ll DDoS your VPN instead if they do.
VPN DDoS protection can be real. However, not all VPNs offer the same level of protection or smooth user experience. Only use top providers such as NordVPN and ExpressVPN. They offer large server networks that are protected against DDoS attacks. They offer bank-grade security with no logs policies, fast speeds and easy-to use apps.
Our full guide will help you learn more about how VPNs can prevent DDoS attacks.
VPN DDoS Protection Doesn’t Work for You
A VPN that blocks DDoS attacks on the gaming server where you are playing won’t work if it is. It will hide your IP address and not the IP of the gaming server. It can’t protect you against a DDoS attack.
Anti-DDoS protection is the only way to prevent the gaming server from being DDoS-ed. You can also choose to play on another server that isn’t being DDoSed, and which has anti-DDoS protection.
Do you have a VPN that can be used to DDoS?
It’s possible for someone to DDoS your VPN server while you are connected to it This is what you should expect when you use VPN to prevent DDoS attacks. The attack should be directed at your VPN server and not your network.
The VPN doesn’t cause DDoS attacks. In the past, hackers have tried to blackmail VPN providers by demanding ransoms and threatening them with DDoS attacks. The worst thing was a minor disruption to service, which meant that a few servers were down for a short time.
Everything will work fine as long as you use a VPN that offers good anti-DDoS protection, such as NordVPN. Even if hackers try to DDoS the VPN server they won’t succeed.
Is it possible to stop a DDoS attack by restarting your router?
You can stop DDoS attacks by restarting your router. However, this is only possible if you have an active IP address. If the person DDoSing your network doesn’t know your new IP they will not be able force you offline.
This solution is not convenient. An anti-DDoS VPN is much more convenient. To avoid DDoS attacks, you can simply connect to a VPN server. It is better than having to restart your router each time it happens.
What happens if you have a static IP address?
You can ask your ISP for a static IP change if you get DDoS-ed. However, we recommend that you use a VPN to protect yourself from DDoS attacks. If you are getting DDoS-ed frequently, it might not be convenient to ask your ISP for a change in your IP. You might have to ask multiple times for them to change your IP and then request that you contact the police.
FAQs
These are the most common questions that we received from people about DDoS attacks on websites like Reddit or Quora and anti-DDoS VPNs.
Are DDoS Attacks Illegal?
DDoS attacks may be illegal in some parts of the globe, but that doesn’t mean they are legal everywhere. You should check the legal position of your country on this matter.
A DDoS attack against a country that is illegal, such as the US or UK, could lead to huge fines and imprisonment.
DDoS Attacks Can Be Traced?
It’s possible to trace the origins of DDoS attacks, but it’s difficult to track thousands of them. It is important to trace a DDoS attack using forensics such as payment trails and the motivation of the attacker.
It’s difficult to identify the attacker because traffic comes from legitimate sources. Many of the people whose computers were used in DDoS attacks are not aware that they were infected or added to a botnet.
It is usually easier to track down a DoS attack since it originated from one device.
DDoS Can Be Prevented?
While there are many tips to avoid DDoS attacks on websites, it is not something that every user can do. A VPN is the best option to protect yourself from DDoS attacks in such situations.
This will ensure that only the VPN is DDoS-ed. Your network will remain secure and you will continue to have Internet access.
What does a VPN do to stop DDoS attacks?
While a VPN won’t “stop” DDoS attacks, it can hide your IP address. It is essential to protect your network from DDoS attacks. They will only be able see your VPN IP address and DDoS the VPN server that you are using.
How a VPN hides your IP is by its servers acting as intermediaries between you and the Internet. Your connection will look something like this instead:
You – ISP Network – Internet
These will look like this:
You – ISP Network – VPN Server – Internet
Anyone you communicate with online will assume that all traffic comes from the VPN server. They will only see the VPN server’s IP address.
How to Stop DDoS Attacks
Using a VPN is the best way to prevent a DDoS attack. Here’s how:
- NordVPN is a reliable anti-DDoS VPN. It is better to do this now than waiting for the DDoS attack, when you may have difficulty accessing the internet.
- Install the VPN app on your phone.
- To connect to a VPN server, use the VPN app
- DDoS attacks now focus on the VPN server and not your device.
Can a free VPN help against DDoS attacks?
A free VPN can protect you from DDoS attacks. However, we cannot guarantee its reliability. Free VPNs are often not safe to use. They likely lack anti-DDoS protection. While they will protect you against DDoS attacks, you will still lose Internet access if your VPN server is DDoS-ed.
ProtonVPN is a great free VPN option. ProtonVPN is a highly secure VPN that offers anti-DDoS protection and legitimate paid plans. It is also the only VPN that offers unlimited bandwidth with its free plan.
