Connection issues | Support | Forum

The server is being attacked via DDoS. So far as I'm aware action is being taken against the person responsible, however as it takes time we may experience these attacks for a short while.

A denial-of-service attack (DoS attack) or distributed denial-of-service attack (DDoS attack) is an attempt to make a computer or network resource unavailable to its intended users. Although the means to carry out, motives for, and targets of a DoS attack may vary, it generally consists of the concerted efforts of a person, or multiple people to prevent an Internet site or service from functioning efficiently or at all, temporarily or indefinitely.

One common method of attack involves saturating the target machine with external communications requests, such that it cannot respond to legitimate traffic, or responds so slowly as to be rendered effectively unavailable. Such attacks usually lead to a server overload. In general terms, DoS attacks are implemented by either forcing the targeted computer(s) to reset, or consuming its resources so that it can no longer provide its intended service or obstructing the communication media between the intended users and the victim so that they can no longer communicate adequately.
Denial-of-service attacks are considered violations of the IAB's Internet proper use policy, and also violate the acceptable use policies of virtually all Internet service providers. They also commonly constitute violations of the laws of individual nations.

In the US, there can be a serious federal crime under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act with penalties that include years of imprisonment.

Anthony

no, its the entire server being overwhelmed which disconnects everybody.

yes. everybody gets disconnected at once.

Dynmap often doesn't update when people are disconnected in this manner because the server doesn't technically go offline, its connection just gets slowed down to the point that nobody can connect.
As such, Dynmap shows the people who were online when the crash occurred until the server comes back up.