What is a Denial of Service (DoS) attack?

A Denial of Service (DoS) attack is characterized by its objective to disrupt the normal functioning of a targeted server, service, or network by overwhelming it with an excessive volume of traffic or requests. This flood of incoming data overwhelms the resources of the targeted system, rendering it unable to process legitimate requests, and ultimately making the service unavailable to users.

In the context of cybersecurity, the goal of a DoS attack is to incapacitate the target rather than gain unauthorized access or steal information. The primary impact is the denial of legitimate access to the service rather than data theft or manipulation. This makes it distinct from other attack types that focus on stealing personal data, encrypting files for ransom, or compromising user credentials, which have different methods and goals centered around data exploitation rather than service interruption.