Denial of Service

A Denial of Service attack (abbr. DoS) tries to block or restrict a certain resource or service (typically available on the internet). This aim can be achieved by various means.

• overloading of the internet connection
• using up resources needed for the service (e.g. memory, CPU capacity, …)
• destruction of files essential to the service
• shutdown of system processes
• any other action leading to the restriction of the service

Those services aimed at, are typically available on the internet. But from the general meaning of "denial of service", also blocking any services that are available to the public (e.g. a computer in a library) can be titled "Denial of Service".