Liveness Attacks

Definition ∞ Liveness attacks are malicious actions that aim to disrupt the continuous operation or availability of a blockchain network or decentralized system. These attacks prevent legitimate transactions from being processed or confirmed, effectively halting or significantly impeding network activity. Unlike attacks that compromise data integrity, liveness attacks target the system’s ability to progress. They threaten the operational continuity of decentralized systems.
Context ∞ Liveness attacks are a serious concern in cybersecurity news related to blockchain resilience and protocol security. Discussions often focus on the design of consensus mechanisms and network architectures that are robust against denial-of-service attempts or other forms of operational interference. The development of more sophisticated fault-tolerance mechanisms and rapid recovery protocols remains a critical area of research to safeguard decentralized systems against such disruptions.