Record 22.2 Tbps DDoS Attack Blocked by Cloudflare

Cloudflare recently thwarted a tremendous cyberattack that clocked in at 22.2 terabits per second (Tbps)—the largest in DDoS history. It's difficult to know just how much traffic that is since it could take down most networks in seconds!

What Happened​

Hackers attempted to use a DDoS attack (Distributed Denial of Service) to send a bunch of fake internet traffic to Cloudflare’s systems. A DDoS attack is a bit like a traffic jam on the internet when hundreds of thousands or millions of devices ask the same website for something all at once. Imagine trying to cross an intersection with a hundred cars from each direction trying to merge into a single lane!

Fortunately, the attack was detected almost immediately by Cloudflare’s systems and subsequently blocked. The site remained online, and that alone is impressive, because an attack of this size could easily take down the majority of websites in a matter of seconds!

Why It Matters​

This probably makes you think, “Why do I care if Cloudflare blocked an attack?” DDoS attacks are getting larger in number and in size, especially in the last 2 years. Just a few years ago, anything over 1 Tbps was a huge deal. Now, hackers are sending DDoS attacks with traffic over 22 Tbps!

If such a large attack happened on a bank, shopping site, or social media platform, the service would be somewhat shut down. Cloudflare protects not only small companies but also large sites who is on their network. That is why they are an important part of the internet safety ecosystem.

Some Quick Facts

• Attack size: 22.2 Tbps (to our knowledge - unheard of)
• Stopped in: seconds
• Target: a site using Cloudflare (unnamed)
• Trend: DDoS attacks becoming stronger/more frequent

My Own Perspective​

Cloudflare's quick action is like an invisible forcefield around websites. But it is also a reminder how fragile the internet can be. If you own any form of a website, even a small one, this is a reminder to make sure you have protections set up as soon as possible. Hackers do not just attack big companies, they can attack anyone.