IP Stresser / Booter Definition & Everything you need to know

IP Stresser / Booter Definition & Everything you need to know

What is an IP stresser or DDoS booter?

Is your network robust enough to manage the traffic from hundreds or even thousands of computers without faltering? Can it withstand a coordinated attack on your servers? Stress testing tools are designed to provide clarity on these questions.

However, the term "stressor" can carry different meanings depending on who you ask. Its definition is not universally agreed upon, as context shapes the interpretation.

A network administrator might define a stressor as a vital testing tool, essential for evaluating the performance of their own servers. They rely on the power of multiple computers—sometimes dozens, sometimes hundreds—to conduct meaningful tests. In this scenario, each computer acts as a stressor.

Conversely, a hacker might see stressors quite differently—viewing them as marketable assets. For them, stressors are tools that can be sold to individuals seeking to execute distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, forming an army for hire.

An IP stresser is a tool utilized to evaluate the resilience of a network or server. Administrators may conduct stress tests to assess whether the current resources, such as bandwidth and CPU, are adequate to manage increased loads.

Using a stresser on one's own network or server is a legitimate practice. However, deploying it against another party's network or server, thereby causing denial-of-service to their legitimate users, is illegal in many jurisdictions.

What are IP Stresser services?

IP Stresser / Booters, commonly referred to as booter services, are illicit DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack services provided by unscrupulous individuals to incapacitate websites and networks. Essentially, booters represent the unlawful application of IP stressers.

Illegal IP stressers frequently conceal the identity of the attacking server through the use of proxy servers, which reroute the attacker's connection while hiding their IP address.

Booters are often marketed as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions, complete with email support and instructional videos on platforms like YouTube. Service packages may include options for a one-time attack, multiple attacks over a specified timeframe, or even “lifetime” access. A basic package for one month can be priced as low as $19.99, with payment methods that may include credit cards, Skrill, PayPal, or Bitcoin (though PayPal may terminate accounts if malicious intent is established).

Is It Possible to Prevent DDoS Booter Attacks?  

A hacker employing these tactics aims to disrupt your server, and at times, you may find yourself compelled to pay a ransom to resolve the issue. You can mitigate a stresser-based attack in the same manner as you would any DDoS attack.

Common strategies include:

• Implementing firewalls.
• Securing your server at the perimeter can prevent you from being inundated with malicious traffic.
• These tools can also help thwart unauthorized access to your network.  
• Utilizing antivirus software.
• Regularly update your programs and conduct a manual scan at least weekly for thorough cleaning.This can help eliminate any malware that may compromise your computer.  
• Monitoring system activity.
• Scrutinize your logs diligently and be ready to act if any anomalies arise. 

For instance, if you detect persistent pings that your system cannot process, promptly block that interaction.  

How does an IP stressor work?

An IP stresser or booter functions by utilizing various attack vectors to orchestrate assaults based on a modular framework. Typically, these services operate on a subscription basis, allowing individuals with malicious intent to initiate either single attacks, a limited number of attacks, or an unlimited number of attacks that can last from a few seconds to several hours. The pricing structure varies, ranging from modest double-digit sums to several hundred euros, contingent upon the duration and the number of concurrent attacks executed. Payments are conducted anonymously, often through cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

Providers of DDoS-for-hire services are increasingly adopting a more professional methodology. Their offerings include user-friendly interfaces, customer support, and instructional video content. With minimal effort on the web interface, clients can choose the type of attack they wish to execute, input the target's IP address, and initiate the assault using the infrastructure provided by the booter service. This results in a flood of automated requests or data packets that intentionally overwhelm the system and network resources of websites, web applications, APIs, or IT infrastructures, thereby rendering them entirely inaccessible or severely limiting access for legitimate users.

Historically, operators of web-based IP stresser or booter services would rent a small number of servers from hosting providers, obscured by proxies, to conduct targeted DDoS attacks for their clients. Their capacity for damage was restricted by the number and capabilities of the servers utilized. In contrast, contemporary DDoS-for-hire service providers predominantly grant access to self-managed or rented botnets, which possess a considerably greater potential for destruction. These botnets can comprise hundreds of thousands of compromised computers and IoT devices, which are exploited remotely for unlawful activities, including DDoS attacks.

Common types of denial-of-service attacks include the following:

SYN Flood: This attack involves sending a series of SYN requests to the target system, aiming to overwhelm it. It takes advantage of vulnerabilities in the TCP connection establishment process, known as the three-way handshake.

HTTP Flood: This attack utilizes HTTP GET or POST requests to target and disrupt the functioning of a web server.

UDP Flood: In this attack, random ports on the target system are inundated with IP packets that contain UDP datagrams, overwhelming the system's resources.

Ping of Death: This type of attack consists of sending IP packets that exceed the size limits set by the IP protocol. When TCP/IP fragmentation occurs, large packets are divided into smaller ones. If the reassembled packets exceed 65,536 bytes, older servers may crash, although this issue has been largely resolved in modern systems. The contemporary version of this attack is known as a ping flood.

ICMP Protocol Attacks: These attacks exploit the ICMP protocol by sending numerous requests that require server processing before a response can be generated. Variants such as the Smurf attack, ICMP flood, and ping flood overwhelm the server with ICMP requests without waiting for replies.

Slowloris: Developed by Robert 'RSnake' Hansen, this attack seeks to maintain multiple open connections to the target web server for an extended period. Eventually, this leads to the denial of additional connection attempts from legitimate clients.

DNS Flood: In this attack, the perpetrator inundates a specific domain's DNS servers, aiming to disrupt the DNS resolution process for that domain.

Teardrop Attack: This attack involves sending fragmented packets to the targeted device. A flaw in the TCP/IP protocol can prevent the server from properly reassembling these packets, resulting in overlaps that cause the targeted device to crash.

DNS Amplification: This reflection-based attack amplifies legitimate requests to DNS servers, resulting in significantly larger responses that can overwhelm the target.