Denial-Of-Service

Definition ∞ Denial-of-service is a cyberattack that aims to make a machine or network resource unavailable to its intended users. This type of attack floods a system with excessive traffic or malicious requests, thereby overwhelming its capacity and preventing legitimate users from accessing services. In the context of blockchain, it could target network nodes or specific applications, disrupting transaction processing or data availability. Such attacks compromise the operational integrity and reliability of digital infrastructure.
Context ∞ The resilience of blockchain networks against denial-of-service attacks is a continuous subject of security research and development. Recent news often highlights incidents where centralized exchanges or specific decentralized applications experience service interruptions due to coordinated traffic spikes. A key debate centers on the effectiveness of various mitigation strategies, including distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) protection services and protocol-level adjustments. Monitoring these vulnerabilities provides insight into the robustness of digital asset platforms.