What is a DDoS attack and how does it impact a streamer?

A DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack is a malicious attempt to disrupt the normal functioning of a server, service, or network by overwhelming it with traffic from multiple sources. For streamers, a DDoS attack can flood their stream with fake viewers and traffic, making it lag, become unwatchable, or even completely shut down, resulting in lost revenue, viewership, and potentially damaging their reputation.