DOS

Updated: 05/06/2024 by Computer Hope
DOS icon

DOS may refer to any of the following:

1. Short for disk operating system, DOS is an acronym describing MS-DOS and the Windows command line. It generally refers to any operating system that runs from a disk drive. Today, dall operating systems can be considered disk operating systems.

2. Short for denial of service, a DoS attack attacks a networked computer by sending it an abnormally high number of requests, causing its network to slow down or fail. Since a single individual cannot generate enough traffic for a DoS attack, these attacks are usually run from multiple computers infected by worms or zombie computers for a DDoS.

Tip

If you run a website getting attacked, use a service like Cloudflare to protect your website from DDoS attacks.

Preventing a DoS attack

Some Internet users (e.g., influencers and gamers) may have trolls that DoS their IP address to cause them grief. As an end user, protecting your home network from these attacks can be difficult. Sometimes, your ISP (Internet Service Provider) can protect you by changing your IP address or going after the attacker. However, if you're frequently attacked, using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) may be a better idea.

How can I do a DoS attack?

Willingly participating in or creating a DoS or DDoS is against the law and can result in criminal charges. Computer Hope does not help anyone with any computer crimes or other criminal activity.

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