If you are a keen gamer, you may have noticed problems with Diablo 4 on or around 25 June, 2023.

There were reports that a DDoS attack brought down the Diablo 4’s servers.

Diablo 4 is a 2023 multiplayer-only action role-playing game developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment. It is the fourth main installment in the Diablo series.

But what is a DDoS attack?

A distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack is a malicious attempt to disrupt the normal traffic on a server. The National Cyber Security Centre website states, “Denial of service” or “DoS” describes the ultimate goal of a class of cyber attacks designed to render a service inaccessible.

“The DoS attacks that most people have heard about are those launched against high profile websites, since these are frequently reported by the media. However, attacks on any type of system, including industrial control systems which support critical processes, can result in a denial of service.

“For the average user, it appears that the site has simply stopped displaying content. For businesses, it could mean that the online systems they depend upon have ceased to respond. The symptoms of a DoS attack against industrial control systems may include the inability to retrieve sensor data, or control critical processes.

“DoS attacks can range in duration and may target more than one site or system at a time. An attack becomes a ‘distributed denial of service’, referred to as “DDoS”, when it comes from multiple computers (or vectors) instead of just one. This is the most common form of DoS attack on websites.”

Preventing attacks may involve detecting and filtering out potential packets of DDoS attackers, thus reducing the volume of threats. Companies need to reroute traffic through firewalls or add them in where necessary. Also, add or strengthen network security products, network intrusion detection systems (IDS), and intrusion prevention systems (IPS).

As with most things, it’s about being prepared for the worst, rather than simply hoping for the best!