A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack is a malicious attempt to disrupt normal traffic to a website or online service by overwhelming it with a flood of internet traffic from multiple sources. Attackers typically use networks of compromised computers (botnets) to generate massive traffic volumes that legitimate servers cannot handle, making services unavailable to real users. Government websites are frequent DDoS targets, particularly during politically sensitive periods. These attacks can prevent citizens from accessing essential online services, filing applications, or obtaining information. Municipalities and other government entities invest in DDoS protection services, traffic filtering, and redundant systems to maintain service availability. While DDoS attacks don't typically steal data, they can cause significant disruption and erode public trust in digital services.