What is the goal of a Denial of Service (DoS) attack?

The goal of a Denial of Service (DoS) attack is to disrupt service to intended users. In a DoS attack, the attacker aims to make a computer, network, or service unavailable to its intended users by overwhelming it with a flood of illegitimate requests, thereby preventing legitimate users from accessing the services. This disruption is often achieved by exploiting vulnerabilities or consuming resources, which can lead to downtime, degraded performance, or complete unavailability of the target service.

While some other types of attacks may focus on stealing data, extorting money, or gaining unauthorized access, the core characteristic of a Denial of Service attack lies specifically in its objective to obstruct user access, rendering the system or service effectively incapacitated. This can have significant ramifications for businesses and individuals who rely on that service, making it a particularly disruptive form of cyber attack.