How to Check If You Are Getting DDoSed: A Complete Guide

Introduction

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks can cripple your online presence, causing downtime, slow performance, and security risks. If you suspect you’re under attack, knowing how to check if you are getting DDoSed is crucial. This guide will help you identify the signs, diagnose the issue, and take immediate action.

What Is a DDoS Attack?

A DDoS attack floods your network, server, or website with excessive traffic from multiple sources, overwhelming your system and making it unavailable to legitimate users. Cybercriminals use botnets—networks of infected devices—to launch these attacks, making them difficult to stop without proper detection.

Signs You Are Getting DDoSed

Before learning how to check if you are getting DDoSed, you should recognize the common symptoms:

1. Unusually Slow Network Performance – If your website or internet connection is suddenly sluggish, it could indicate a DDoS attack.
2. Complete Unavailability (Downtime) – If your site crashes or becomes unreachable, attackers may be flooding your server.
3. Spike in Traffic from Unknown Sources – A sudden surge in requests from suspicious IPs is a red flag.
4. High CPU or Bandwidth Usage – Check your server resources; unexpected spikes often mean an attack.
5. Strange Traffic Patterns – Repeated requests from the same IP range or unusual geographic locations suggest malicious activity.

How to Check If You Are Getting DDoSed

1. Monitor Network Traffic

Use tools like Wireshark, NetFlow, or PRTG to analyze incoming traffic. Look for:

• A massive increase in requests
• Unusual IP addresses sending repetitive requests
• Traffic concentrated on a single port or service

2. Check Server Logs

Review your server logs for abnormal activity:

• Excessive failed login attempts
• Multiple requests from the same IP in a short time
• Unusual user agents or referrers

3. Use DDoS Detection Tools

Several tools can help confirm if you’re under attack:

• Cloudflare – Detects and mitigates DDoS attacks in real-time.
• Akamai Prolexic – Provides advanced DDoS protection and monitoring.
• Sucuri – Scans for malicious traffic and blocks attacks.

4. Analyze Bandwidth Usage

If your bandwidth is maxed out without a legitimate reason, a DDoS attack may be the cause. Use:

• Router Logs – Check for abnormal traffic patterns.
• ISP Reports – Some ISPs notify customers of suspicious traffic.

5. Test Website Accessibility

If your site loads slowly or not at all, but other sites work fine, you might be under attack. Use:

• DownDetector – Checks if others are experiencing similar issues.
• Ping & Traceroute – High latency or failed pings indicate possible DDoS activity.

What to Do If You Are Getting DDoSed?

Once you confirm how to check if you are getting DDoSed, take immediate action:

1. Contact Your Hosting Provider – They may have DDoS mitigation tools.
2. Enable a Web Application Firewall (WAF) – Blocks malicious traffic.
3. Rate Limiting – Restricts the number of requests from a single IP.
4. Use a CDN – Distributes traffic to reduce server load.
5. Blacklist Suspicious IPs – Manually block attacking IPs if possible.

Preventing Future DDoS Attacks

Proactive measures can reduce the risk:

• Use DDoS Protection Services (e.g., Cloudflare, AWS Shield)
• Keep Software Updated – Patches vulnerabilities attackers exploit.
• Implement Network Security Best Practices – Firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and strong authentication.

Conclusion

Knowing how to check if you are getting DDoSed is essential for maintaining online security. By monitoring traffic, analyzing logs, and using detection tools, you can identify and mitigate attacks quickly. Implementing strong security measures will help prevent future disruptions. Stay vigilant and protect your digital assets from malicious threats.

By following this guide, you’ll be better prepared to detect and respond to DDoS attacks effectively. If you suspect an attack, act fast to minimize damage and ensure uninterrupted service.