Stresser (or booter) services provide denial-of-service attack as a service, usually as a criminal enterprise. [1]
They have simple front ends, and accept payment over the web. Marketed and promoted as stress-testing tools, they can be used to perform unauthorized denial-of-service attacks, and allow technically unsophisticated attackers access to sophisticated attack tools. [2] Usually powered by a botnet, the traffic produced by a consumer stresser can range anywhere from 5-50 Gbit/s, which can, in most cases, deny the average home user internet access. [3]
Targets of booter/stresser services include network gaming services. [2] [4] Motivations for the use of stresser services include revenge, extortion, and simple mischief.
The use or provision of booter/ stresser services for unauthorized DDoS attacks is illegal in both the United States and the United Kingdom under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and Computer Misuse Act 1990 respectively. [1] [5]
In 2023 it was revealed that a cross-industry organization called "Big Pipes" with representatives from major Internet companies had been working with law enforcement to find and shut down illegal booter/stresser services for the previous five years. [4]
The UK National Crime Agency has set up numerous " honeypot" websites purporting to be booter/stresser services. The details of people registering with these fake services are logged. [6]
Stresser (or booter) services provide denial-of-service attack as a service, usually as a criminal enterprise. [1]
They have simple front ends, and accept payment over the web. Marketed and promoted as stress-testing tools, they can be used to perform unauthorized denial-of-service attacks, and allow technically unsophisticated attackers access to sophisticated attack tools. [2] Usually powered by a botnet, the traffic produced by a consumer stresser can range anywhere from 5-50 Gbit/s, which can, in most cases, deny the average home user internet access. [3]
Targets of booter/stresser services include network gaming services. [2] [4] Motivations for the use of stresser services include revenge, extortion, and simple mischief.
The use or provision of booter/ stresser services for unauthorized DDoS attacks is illegal in both the United States and the United Kingdom under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and Computer Misuse Act 1990 respectively. [1] [5]
In 2023 it was revealed that a cross-industry organization called "Big Pipes" with representatives from major Internet companies had been working with law enforcement to find and shut down illegal booter/stresser services for the previous five years. [4]
The UK National Crime Agency has set up numerous " honeypot" websites purporting to be booter/stresser services. The details of people registering with these fake services are logged. [6]