Introduction to Slowloris

Slowloris is a unique denial-of-service attack tool that targets specific web servers by holding as many connections open as possible for an extended period. Unlike traditional DDoS attacks that flood a network with traffic, Slowloris keeps many connections to the target web server open and holds them for as long as possible. This can exhaust the server's connection pool, preventing legitimate users from accessing the server.

Understanding DDoS Attacks

DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks aim to make a server or network resource unavailable to its intended users by overwhelming it with a flood of internet traffic. Slowloris achieves this not by sending an overwhelming amount of data, but by sending requests very slowly, effectively tying up the server's resources.

Setting Up Slowloris

Before diving into the attack, ensure that Slowloris is set up correctly:

1. On Kali Linux, you can install Slowloris using the following command:

sudo apt-get install slowloris

Executing DDoS Attacks with Slowloris

Using Slowloris, you can initiate a DDoS attack with the following steps:

1. Open your terminal in Kali Linux.
2. Use the following command to start the attack:

slowloris -dns [target_domain_or_IP]

3. You can also specify the number of sockets to use with the `-s` flag and the interval between headers with the `-i` flag.

Example of Slowloris Attack

Here's a basic example of how to use Slowloris to target a web server:

slowloris -dns www.example.com -s 500 -i 10

This command targets "www.example.com" with 500 sockets and sends a header every 10 seconds.

Defending Against Slowloris Attacks

While understanding the attack is crucial, it's equally important to know how to defend against it:

• Implement a timeout for half-open connections.
• Use a reverse proxy or load balancer to distribute incoming connections.
• Limit the number of connections a single IP address can establish.
• Regularly monitor and audit server logs for signs of an attack.

Additional Resources

Slowloris is a potent tool for executing DDoS attacks against specific web servers. By understanding its mechanism and potential impact, security professionals can better defend against such threats. Always ensure you have the necessary permissions and adhere to ethical guidelines when conducting tests. Using DDoS attacks without permission is illegal and unethical.

For a deeper understanding of Slowloris and its implications, you can refer to this detailed article by GeeksforGeeks.