The practice of overwhelming a server's normal traffic is known as?

The practice of overwhelming a server's normal traffic is known as a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack. In this type of cyber attack, multiple compromised systems are used to flood a target server with an excessive amount of traffic, rendering it unable to respond to legitimate requests. The primary goal of a DDoS attack is to disrupt the service of the target, often leading to downtime and loss of availability for users trying to access the service.

In contrast, phishing involves tricking individuals into providing sensitive information, such as usernames and passwords, usually through deceptive emails or websites. SQL injection is a method used to exploit vulnerabilities in a database by inserting malicious SQL code into a query, which can manipulate or access data without proper authorization. A data breach refers to an incident where unauthorized access to data occurs, often involving the theft of sensitive information but does not specifically involve overwhelming a server's traffic. Each of these alternatives represents different aspects of cybersecurity threats, but they do not pertain to the act of overwhelming server traffic as a DDoS attack does.