T 5.28 Denial of services

Such an attack aims to prevent IT users from using functions or devices which are normally available to them. This attack often takes place in connection with distributed resources, with the attacker using these resources to such a degree that other users are prevented from carrying out their work. Shortage of the following resources can intentionally take place: processes, CPU time, disk space, inodes, directories.

This can be carried out, for example, by:

• starting any number of programs simultaneously,

• starting numerous programs at the same time which use a lot of CPU time,

• occupation of all free inodes within a Unix system so that no new files can be created,

• creation of a large number of small files in a directory on a DOS PC so that no new files can be created inside this directory,

• deliberately overloading the network,

• cutting off network connections