Distributed Denial of Service Attacks

Distributed Denial of Service Attacks

The challenges to apprehending the suspects in distributed denial of service (“DDOS”) attacks are substantial. In many cases, the attackers use “spoofed” IP addresses, so that the address that appears on the target’s log is not the true address of the system that sent the messages. In the United States, a hacker who engaged in a DDOS attack would be prosecuted under the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Even more worrying are attacks on critical infrastructure (often privately owned), aimed at causing physical and economic harm to people and the economy

One longstanding principle of criminal law is that criminal punishment should be reserved only for acts that are themselves harmful. Does the criminalization of Distributed Denial of Service attacks compromise this standard? Remember that a single request for a web page is, quite obviously, not criminal, while repeated requests to make a web page inaccessible are criminal.

1. What distinguishes criminal from non-criminal acts here? 
2. Is intent relevant?’
3. Would an attempted (but failed) DDOS attack be considered criminal?

Solution Preview

Criminal acts are the actions that are against the well-being of the public, and the state in general. These wrongs are usually serious, and bring about social, political, and economic challenges to the society…