@BitChaser
A DDoS attack is short for a denial-of-service (DoS) or distributed denial-of-service (DDoS). It's just an attempt to deny service/access to a server or website by flooding the site with lots and lots and lots of spam traffic.
Could be caused by a competitor site.
Thank you for this. Basically just constant pinging the server? Must be something pretty simple to do since it happens so much. Is it one person running it from a computer, or a server, or a botnet or a shit ton of assholes with the same goal in mind? Is this similar to the Low Orbit Ion Cannon or w/e I read about LuLz using?
It's not simple for the layman user. Could be one person running enough botnets to get it done or it could be a group of people running millions of botnet to guarantee closure. DDoS protection is a huge business these days.
If it's not a competitor then it is someone trying to blackmail the owners. "Pay us X amount of BTC and we will allow your site to resume"
This is very common among gambling sites because the attackers know they have the money. Probably most likely scenario now that I think about it.
Also, yes it is similar to LuLz LOIC.