The latest OW2 DDoS attack disappointed many Blizzard players. On February 28, 2024, the attack was repelled by Blizzard in a short period of time.
The DDoS attack affected Overwatch 2, and players faced lag, disconnections, and other issues. Blizzard announced that it quickly resolved the issue, and players are back in the game. Here’s all you need to know.
OW2 DDoS attack and its effects
DDoS attacks are cyber-attacks in which hackers try to overwhelm servers with excessive traffic and take them out of service. The attack on Battle.net affected many players playing Overwatch 2.
Blizzard announced the attack on X (formerly Twitter) and said they were working to fix the problem. About an hour later, they announced that the issue was resolved and players could re-enter the game.
[#Overwatch2 #Warcraft] We are currently experiencing a DDoS attack, which may result in high latency and disconnections for some players. We are actively working to mitigate this issue.
— Blizzard CS – The Americas (@BlizzardCS) February 28, 2024
The Battle.net DDoS attack is one of the biggest issues the company has faced since the launch of Overwatch 2. However, it’s worth noting that the attack may have damaged players’ trust in the game and hurt Blizzard’s reputation.
The gaming giant is already looking into how it can prevent future DDoS attacks. The company is working to improve the security of its servers and respond faster to attacks.
What are DDoS attacks?
The attacks are cyber attacks that aim to make a website or online service unavailable. Attackers send so many fake requests to the server that it has no capacity to process requests from real users. This causes the website or service to crash or slow down.
How do DDoS attacks work?
DDoS attacks are usually carried out by a group of computers called a “botnet”. Botnets are made up of computers that have been compromised by viruses or other malware. Using the botnet, attackers send many fake requests to the server. The requests sent consume the server’s resources, leaving it unable to process requests from real users.
What are the types of DDoS attacks?
There are three main types of DDoS attacks:
- Volumetric attacks: This type of attack overwhelms the server with so many spoofed requests that it has no capacity to process requests from real users.
- Application layer attacks: This type of attack targets a specific application or service of the server.
- Mirroring attacks: This type of attack uses a third-party server to cause the server to be flooded with fake requests.
What are the effects of DDoS attacks?
DDoS attacks can have serious consequences for websites and online services. Attacks can cause the following:
- Website or service crashes or slows down
- Data loss
- Financial loss
- Reputation loss
How to protect against DDoS attacks?
Several measures can be taken to protect against DDoS attacks:
- Using firewalls and other security software
- Keeping the server up to date
- Using a service that can detect and block DDoS attacks
DDoS attacks pose a serious threat to websites and online services. It is important to take the necessary precautions to protect against such attacks.
Returning to our original topic, Blizzard’s quick response ensured that the issue was resolved quickly and the player experience was minimally impacted. But attacks like these underscore the security concerns facing online gaming. It’s important that gaming companies continually improve their technology and protections against cybersecurity threats so that we can enjoy our games.
Blizzard has stated its commitment to preventing future DDoS attacks. Work is ongoing to find vulnerabilities and improve the resilience of its servers. Players can rest easy knowing that protecting their gaming experience is Blizzard’s top priority.
Featured image credit: Freepik
