DDoS Attacks and Defenses

University of Colorado System via Coursera

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/ddos-attacks-and-defense

Introduction

### Course Review: DDoS Attacks and Defenses on Coursera If you're looking to deepen your understanding of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks and the defenses applicable to them, the Coursera course titled **"DDoS Attacks and Defenses"** is an exceptional choice. Offered as a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), this course provides a comprehensive overview of DDoS threats while equipping learners with practical techniques to defend against such assaults. #### Course Overview The course begins with an essential context: the historical landscape of DDoS attacks. It then delves into the intricacies of the **Mirai IoT Malware**, discussing its design, implementation, and the forensic analysis associated with it. Students will learn how to dissect Mirai’s source code, gaining insights into where it was developed and how it operates. This foundational knowledge prepares learners to evaluate any new DDoS malware that may emerge in the future. Subsequently, the course transitions to defense techniques. You will explore basic DDoS mitigation strategies and establish a basic understanding of countermeasures that can be deployed to safeguard systems. The highlight of the course is the introduction of **A2D2**, an Autonomous Anti-DDoS Network designed specifically for small to medium-sized organizations. This module teaches the use of Linux Firewall features like rate limiting, Class Based Queueing, and subnet flood detection to combat various types of DDoS traffic. The final sections of the course address an innovative approach entitled **Intrusion Tolerance with Proxy-based Multipath Routing**. Here, students learn about the new paradigm that improves defense mechanisms while enhancing performance and reliability—essential for organizations that cannot afford downtime. #### Syllabus Breakdown 1. **DDoS Attacks** - Overview of DDoS attack history - Characteristics of the Mirai IoT Malware attack - Source code analysis and forensic evidence collection 2. **DDoS Defenses** - Basic DDoS Defense techniques - Firewall deployment strategies - Future attack mitigation planning 3. **DDoS Defense Systems and Techniques** - In-depth study of A2D2 - Effectiveness analysis of defense mechanisms - Advocate for firewall features and strategy development 4. **Intrusion Tolerance with Proxy-based Multipath Routing** - Understanding of new defense paradigms - Discussion of performance, reliability, and overhead considerations #### Pros of the Course - **Practical Knowledge**: The hands-on approach equips students with the ability to perform source code analysis of DDoS malware, enabling them to understand real-world attack vectors. - **Comprehensive Defense Strategies**: By focusing on A2D2, participants gain insights into tailored solutions for small and medium enterprises—a segment often underprepared for such threats. - **Innovative Concepts**: The inclusion of proxy-based multipath routing introduces learners to cutting-edge defense mechanisms that can enhance their overall cybersecurity posture. #### Cons of the Course - **Technical Complexity**: Some learners may find the technical depth challenging, especially those without a robust background in cybersecurity concepts. - **Not Beginner-Friendly**: While the course is informative, it assumes a degree of prior knowledge in networking and security that may not be suitable for absolute beginners. #### Recommendation Overall, **"DDoS Attacks and Defenses"** is highly recommended for cybersecurity professionals, network administrators, or IT specialists seeking to bolster their defenses against one of the most prevalent forms of cyber threats today. The course is particularly valuable for small to medium-sized business owners looking to understand and implement effective DDoS mitigation strategies. Whether you are pursuing a career in cybersecurity or seeking to enhance your organization's defensive measures, this course offers invaluable insights and practical techniques that you can implement immediately. Enroll today on Coursera and arm yourself with the knowledge to combat DDoS attacks effectively!

Syllabus

DDoS Attacks

In this MOOC, you will learn the history of DDoS attacks, get an in-depth look at the characteristics new Mirai IoT Malware attack. You will know how to analyze the Mirai source code and understand its design and implementation details. You will also see how forensic evidences pointed where it was designed. By the end of the course, you are able to take a new DDoS malware and perform detailed analysis and collect forensic evidences.

DDoS Defenses

In this module, you will be provided a brief overview of Basic DDoS Defense techniques. By the end of this course, you should be able to deploy firewall features to reduce the impact of DDoS on your system and develop strategies for dealing with future DDoS attacks.

DDoS Defense Systems and Techniques

In this module, you learn an Autonomous Anti-DDoS Network called A2D2 suitable for small/medium size business to deal DDoS defense. A2D2 uses Linux Firewall Rate limiting and Class Based Queueing, and subnet flood detection to handle various DDoS traffic types. You learn how to analyze effectiveness of these different defense mechanisms. By the end of this course, you should be able to deploy firewall features to reduce the impact of DDoS on your system and develop strategies for dealing with future DDoS attacks.

Intrusion Tolerance with Proxy-based Multipath Routing

In this module you learn a new Intrusion tolerance paradigm with proxy-based multipath routing for DDoS defense. You learn the development of such new security mechanism also improves the performance and reliability of the system, and does not have to be just an overhead.

Overview

In this MOOC, you will learn the history of DDoS attacks and analyze new Mirai IoT Malware and perform source code analysis. you will be provided with a brief overview of DDoS Defense techniques. You learn an Autonomous Anti-DDoS Network called A2D2 for small/medium size organizations to deal with DDoS attacks. A2D2 uses Linux Firewall Rate limiting and Class Based Queueing, and subnet flood detection to handle various DDoS traffic types. You learn the new Intrusion tolerance paradigm with

Skills

Reviews

Mr. Chow is a really good instructor. Definitely worth it.

It was an excellent course, and earning this professional certification has taught me a lot more.

It is a wonderful course on DDoS basics and defense techniques.

it was Amazing learning experience . I recommended please enroll the course

This course is one of the best course related to Network security. Additional resources were very useful especially the thesis about A2D2 network. Questions are also very nice and conceptual.