How to Mitigate a DDoS Attack: A Guide for Hosting Clients

DDoS attacks can be frustrating and disruptive, but there are simple steps you can take to protect your website. This guide explains what DDoS attacks are, how they can affect your website, and what you can do to prevent or fix them.

What is a DDoS Attack?

A DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack happens when someone sends too much fake traffic to your website, server, or network. This overloads the system and makes it slow, unreliable, or completely unreachable for real visitors.

Think of it like too many people trying to enter a shop at once—no one can get in, and the shop becomes impossible to manage.

These attacks are particularly challenging because the malicious traffic often mimics legitimate requests, making it difficult to filter.

Types of DDoS Attacks

Not all DDoS attacks are the same. Here are a few examples:

1. Flooding your website with traffic
   Attackers overload your site by sending more visitors than it can handle, slowing it down or taking it offline.

2. Targeting specific areas
   Sometimes, attackers focus on one part of your site, like a login page or contact form.

3. Exploiting weaknesses
   If your website has outdated software or plugins, attackers might combine a DDoS attack with hacking attempts, such as:

   • Spamming your email forms or newsletters.
   • Disrupting your online shop’s checkout process.

Impact of a DDoS Attack

A DDoS attack can cause several problems, including:

• Slow websites: Pages may take forever to load.
• Website outages: Visitors can’t access your site at all.
• Server crashes: The attack may bring down not only your website but also affect others sharing the same server (common with shared hosting).

These effects can harm user experience, damage business reputation, and lead to financial loss.

Preventative Measures

Here are simple steps to help keep your website safe:

1. Use CloudFlare (Free Protection)

CloudFlare is a service that acts like a shield for your website. It stops most malicious traffic before it even reaches our server or your site.

• Free Plan: Perfect for most small to medium websites.
  • If your site is under attack, consider upgrading to the Pro plan (details below).
• How to set it up: Sign-up for CloudFlare, add your website to it and update your DNS settings.
  • Our support team can help if you’re unsure
    • Grant our technicians access to your CloudFlare Dashboard
  • We have a detailed guide on how you can adjust your CloudFlare settings for enhanced protection available here:
    • How to Adjust the CloudFlare Settings for Better DDoS Protection

2. Keep Your Website Updated

Make sure your website software, plugins, and themes are always up to date. Updates often fix security vulnerabilities that attackers might use.

• For WordPress users: Regularly check for updates in your dashboard and use cPanel's WordPress Management (formerly WP Toolkit) and its Smart Update feature to apply updates safely
  • How to update your WordPress site with WordPress Management and Smart Update

3. Use Strong Security Practices

• Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication (2FA).
• Remove unused plugins or features that could be vulnerable.
• Install a basic security plugin if you use WordPress (e.g., Wordfence or Sucuri).
• For more recommendations: Essential checklist for WordPress websites

Reactive Measures

If your site is targeted by a DDoS attack, act quickly to mitigate the impact:

1. Enable CloudFlare

If you haven’t already, set up CloudFlare. It starts working as soon as you change your site’s DNS settings (this usually takes just a few hours).

2. Upgrade to CloudFlare Pro

If the attack is severe, the CloudFlare Pro plan (around $25/month) offers extra tools, such as:

• Advanced filtering of harmful traffic.
• Better control over who can access your site.
• Blocks known threats automatically.
• Allows adding custom security rules.
• Limits requests to prevent flooding.

We have a detailed guide on how you can adjust your CloudFlare settings for enhanced protection available here: How to Adjust CloudFlare Pro Settings for Better DDoS Protection

3. Contact Our Support Team

We’re here to help! If you think your website is under attack, reach out to us. We can:

• Review server logs to identify the problem.
• Apply temporary blocks or limits to minimise the attack’s impact.

4. Involve a Website Expert

If the attack exposed vulnerabilities in your site, ask a trusted developer to:

• Fix the issues (e.g., outdated plugins or scripts).
• Strengthen your site against future attacks.

Final Recommendations

DDoS attacks can happen to any website, but being prepared can make all the difference. By combining proactive measures like CloudFlare and regular site maintenance with reactive strategies, you can minimise downtime and disruption. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact our support team—we’re here to help.

Updated by SP on 26/11/2024