Increasing Web attacks disrupt commerce

Website attacks are increasing in frequency and ferocity, hammering DVD sales and disrupting online payment services.

Called "distributed denial of service attacks" (DDOS), they bombard sites with so much data that legitimate traffic can’t get through.

They’ve been around for years. But they’re now more powerful, and they’re taking down more than just intended targets. In recent incidents, companies providing Web-hosting services for victims — as well as hundreds of their customers — have been caught in the cross-hairs, creating a wave of collateral damage.

By Jon Swartz, USA TODAY

Full Story: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/computersecurity/2006-02-26-web-attacks_x.htm