A DDoS attack (Distributed Denial-of-Service) is a malicious attempt to disrupt the normal functioning of a targeted server, service, or network by overwhelming it with a flood of traffic. This is accomplished by leveraging a multitude of compromised systems, often part of a botnet, to send simultaneous requests. As a result, the targeted website may experience significant downtime or become completely inaccessible to legitimate users. The effect is detrimental, leading to potential financial losses, damage to reputation, and a loss of customer trust.