DoS Attacks

Definition ∞ DoS Attacks, or Denial-of-Service Attacks, are malicious attempts to disrupt the normal functioning of a network, server, or service. These attacks overwhelm the target with excessive traffic or requests, rendering it unavailable to legitimate users. In the context of digital assets, DoS attacks can target exchanges, blockchain nodes, or decentralized applications. They aim to cause operational disruption and financial losses.
Context ∞ News reports on DoS attacks in the crypto sector frequently detail service outages, trading disruptions, and security vulnerabilities. Blockchain networks themselves possess inherent resilience against certain DoS vectors due to their distributed nature. However, centralized components within the crypto ecosystem, such as exchanges, remain susceptible and require robust mitigation strategies.