A DDoS attack on your game server is not a question of if, but when. As soon as your server gains any popularity, you become a target. Frustrated players, competing servers, or simply vandals can launch an attack with a few clicks. The consequences are immediately noticeable: high ping, packet loss, and eventually an unreachable server. What can you do about it?
What is a DDoS attack exactly?
DDoS stands for Distributed Denial of Service. An attacker sends traffic from hundreds or thousands of compromised devices (a botnet) to your server IP. The goal is not to hack your server but to overwhelm it with so much traffic that legitimate players cannot connect. Think of it as blocking a store entrance with thousands of people who have no intention of shopping.
Why game servers are popular targets
Game servers are attractive targets for several reasons:
- Fixed ports: Minecraft uses 25565, FiveM uses 30120, Rust uses 28015. These are well-known and easily scanned.
- Low latency requirements: even minor disruption causes noticeable lag for players.
- Visible impact: the attacker sees immediate results when the server goes offline.
- Motivation: banned players, competing servers, or disputes within the community.
Choose hosting with built-in protection
The most important decision is your hosting provider. A home server on a consumer internet connection goes offline with an attack of just a few hundred megabits per second. Professional hosting providers include network-level DDoS mitigation that filters attack traffic before it reaches your server. At HostValues, DDoS protection is included with all plans at no extra cost.
Hide your real IP
If an attacker knows your server IP, they can target it directly. Several strategies help:
- Use a domain with SRV records: players connect via your domain name instead of a raw IP. The IP is still discoverable, but it adds a layer.
- TCP proxy for Minecraft: services like TCPShield (free tier available) act as a reverse proxy. Players connect to the proxy IP; your real server IP stays hidden.
- Cloudflare Spectrum: for non-HTTP game traffic, Cloudflare Spectrum proxies connections and absorbs attacks.
Configure your firewall
On a VPS, your firewall is your first defense line:
- Only open the ports your game actually needs. Close everything else.
- Enable rate limiting per IP:
iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 27015 -m limit --limit 100/s -j ACCEPT. - Block known bad IP ranges using community-maintained blocklists.
- Consider fail2ban for SSH and web interfaces to prevent brute-force attacks alongside DDoS.
Application-layer protection
Network-level DDoS protection does not stop application-layer attacks. If someone creates a hundred bot accounts that connect to your Minecraft server, the network sees legitimate traffic. You need game-level defenses:
- Anti-bot plugins: for Minecraft, plugins like BotSentry or AntiBot detect and block connection floods.
- Connection throttling: limit how many connections a single IP can make per minute.
- CAPTCHA on join: some servers require solving a simple task before getting full access, filtering out automated bots.
Create a response plan
When an attack hits, you need to act fast:
- Identify whether it is a network-level (bandwidth) or application-level (bot connections) attack.
- For network-level: contact your hosting provider. If protection is built in, it should handle it automatically.
- For application-level: enable stricter connection limits, activate anti-bot plugins, temporarily whitelist only known players.
- Document the attack: timestamp, duration, type, source IPs if visible. This helps your provider improve filtering.
- Communicate with your community: a brief Discord message that you are aware and working on it prevents panic.
Keep your software updated
Outdated server software can have vulnerabilities that amplify the impact of attacks. Keep your game server, operating system, and all plugins up to date. Enable automatic security updates on your OS where possible.
Does DDoS protection cost extra?
At HostValues, no. DDoS protection is included with all game server, bot, and VPS plans at no additional cost.
Can a DDoS attack damage my world or data?
Not directly. A DDoS makes the server unreachable but does not modify data. The indirect risk is that if the server is forcefully shut down mid-save, the latest save may corrupt. Automatic backups prevent significant data loss.
What if I am being targeted repeatedly?
Switch to a hosting provider with enterprise-grade protection, hide your real IP behind a proxy, and consider changing server IP if your current one is widely known to attackers. Most persistent attackers give up once the effort-to-impact ratio becomes unfavorable.
All game hosting and VPS plans from HostValues include DDoS protection at no extra charge.
