IP Stresser/IP Booter: Definition, Working, and How to Prevent Attacks?

A robust network or server is highly prone to cyberattacks. Because of its high traffic volume, the attackers target to steal the website’s data and exploit the configuration. They use tools like IP Stresser to send malicious links to sites on the internet. 

These tools are legitimate when you use them to test your website, however, have the potential to disrupt the functioning of other websites. 

Here in this blog, we’ll discuss IP Stresser, IP booters, the working mechanism, common attacks, and preventative methods. So read it till the end to know more. 

What are IP Stresser and IP Booter?

IP Stresser is a special kind of tool that is designed to test a network for its robustness. It runs a stress test regularly to ensure the server can handle additional load. 

These tools can be used by anyone to maintain their site in good quality. However, if you run it against another website, it sends a DDoS attack which floods your server or network with malicious links and viruses and is illegal. These tools despite having the benefits of testing the network require permission for usage due to their involvement in cyberattacks. 

IP Booters/Stressers can also be used interchangeably, as they can cause harm, steal data, and bring down someone’s website if used for negative reasons. 

How Do IP Stresser Function?

As already mentioned, IP Stesser is a legal DDoS tool, and you can use it to check the status of your website and even to bring someone’s else site down. Here’s a breakdown of its function: 

• Purpose: These are designed to evaluate the durability and resistance of a network by directing high traffic toward a particular IP address. 

• Traffic Generation: They initiate the process by creating heavy traffic with the help of protocols like HTTP and UDP. 

• Botnets: The tool uses botnets, which are a group of compromised devices, to overwhelm the IP address. 

• Overloading: The last step is that they send a large amount of traffic to the website. 

The process is done to evaluate where the site is standing and its weaknesses and to take the necessary measures to strengthen the conditions. It is also important to note that using an IP Stressor to cause harm and use without permission has legal ramifications and can result in substantial financial and reputational harm. 

Now that you are aware of how IP Stressers function, let’s go ahead and see how attackers use them for notorious purposes. 

How Do Attackers Use IP Booters?

IP Booters, the evil brother of IP Stresser, is the service given by hackers to launch Distributed Denial of Service attacks on the targeted websites. Here’s how attackers use it and their motives behind it: 

• IP Booting Service: Attackers usually develop their own tools or take third-party services that require payment in cryptocurrencies and vow to stay anonymous. 

• Target Selection: The attackers then find and locate the IP address of their target, which can be any website, server, or online service. 

• Botnet Activation: The hackers combine all the compromised devices as one network to increase the impact of the attack. 

• Traffic Congestion: They redirect all the bots and heavy traffic to the targeted IP address to overwhelm it. As a result, the site slows down, becomes unresponsive, and causes significant service disruption. 

The IP Booters shield the identity of the attackers and allow them to steal and extort the data. The motive behind the move is either to ask for ransom or just disrupt the competitor’s services for malicious reasons. Using IP Booters for sending DDoS attacks is against the law, and attackers can face serious repercussions when they get caught. 

Moving ahead, let’s discuss the most common DDoS attacks that attackers send to the target in the following section. 

Common DDoS Attacks 

Distributed Denial of Service attacks have multiple forms, each targeting various aspects of the disruption. Here are the common ones used by hackers: 

Volumetric Attacks

In this, the attackers try to overwhelm the target by flooding it with a massive amount of traffic. Its main aim is to shut down the server by causing network congestion. 

Protocol Attacks 

In this, the attackers use IP Booter to analyze all the weaknesses of the system and hit the weak spot to consume the server resources. Its main goal is to disrupt network communication and extort network resources. 

Application Layer Attacks

The attackers target the 7 security layers of the OSI model of the particular application of the website. This attack is carried out to make the target unresponsive and unavailable to its audience. 

Botnet Based Attacks 

This type of DDoS attack uses botnets to send the attack vector to the target from multiple sources. It is nearly impossible to track the initiator in this attack. The goal is to take down the target and weaken its security structure. 

Connection Flood Attacks 

The hackers use tools like ACK Flood and SYK Flood to wreak havoc on the targeted site with connection requests, causing difficulty in managing simultaneous connections. The goal is to exhaust the resources of the target and make it unable to track the legitimate responses. 

So these are the common types of Distributed Denial of Service attacks hackers send to exploit their target. Now that you know this, let’s go ahead and learn about the preventative measures in the next section. 

How to Prevent DDoS Booter Attacks? 

You need to take proactive measures, strengthen your security layers, and incorporate the use of specialized tools to keep DDoS attacks at bay. We have some effective strategies that you can utilize: 

• Web Application Firewall: The WAF filters and regulates the HTTP traffic between the application and the internet. It blocks all the malicious traffic when it reaches the server to protect the application layer attack. 

• DDoS Protection Services: You can use specialized services that detect and stop DDoS attacks. These third-party services reroute the traffic by filtering the malicious data and allowing the legitimate traffic to pass through the security layer of the network. 

• Network Traffic Monitoring: The website owners need to continuously analyze the network traffic to keep an eye on irregularities and sudden spikes. The early detection allows you to respond quickly and minimizes the damage. 

• Geo-Blocking and IP Blacklisting: You can block traffic from a particular geographical location or even an IP address. This helps to reduce the exposure to threats from known attackers and high-risk locations. 

• Increase the Bandwidth Capacity: You must upgrade your network to handle a large amount of traffic. Along with that, you need to strengthen the seven layers of security of your system. 

By following the above-given practices, you’ll be able to protect your network or server against all types of DDoS attacks. 

What to Do After the DDoS Attacks? 

If the IP stressors have already attacked and disrupted your server network, here are the steps you need to take: 

• Inform the data center and your ISP. 
• Do not give any ransom, as it leads to more extortion of money. 
• You must file a complaint and inform law enforcement agencies. 
• Install high-end security products to shield all the layers of your system. 
• Reach out to the DDoS protection center and group for help. 

These are a few mandatory steps that you need to follow if your network or server gets attacked.

Well-Known IP Stressors/Booters 

IP Booters are illegal tools; however, it is important to know about them for educational purposes. Here are some well-known IP booter names that you must be aware of: 

VDO Stresser 

It is one of the most popular tools in the realm of IP stressors. Although it is marketed as a legitimate tool to detect and test the network’s capacity against attacks, it is widely used for launching DDoS. The tool is misused by sending excessive traffic, resulting in disruption. The tools have a user-friendly interface and even allow people with limited technical knowledge to launch DDoS attacks.  

Lizard Stresser 

This is another IP stresser designed by a hacking group named Lizard Squad. It gained popularity to launch attacks on gaming stations like Xbox and PlayStation. The tool is banned in many countries, as it’s mostly used for nefarious purposes. 

Lizard Stresser is written in C programming language and has DDoS botnets of compromised Linux devices that are put into action to disrupt the target. 

Quantum Stresser 

Quantum Stresser was one of the best Ip Booter, reportedly had more than 80,000 subscribers, and carried out more than 1 lac attacks before it got banned by the FBI. It used to offer a range of attacks, including UDP floods, SYN floods, and application-layer attacks, making it the favorite for hackers. This tool was famous in the cybercriminal stems because of its ability to customize the attacks and user-friendly interface. 

Please note that even though the authorities have successfully banned many IP Booters, there are many available on the market, used by hackers. Therefore, paying utmost importance to security and making the application or the network robust is necessary.  

So this was all about the IP stressors and IP booters, their working mechanisms, and common types of attacks. We hope this blog will encourage you to strengthen the security of your website. Share the information with your family to inform them as well. 

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