LOIC

LOIC (Low Orbit Ion Cannon) is an open-source network stress testing and denial-of-service (DoS) tool created by Praetox Technologies. Originally developed for network security testing purposes, LOIC allows users to send a large volume of TCP, UDP, or HTTP requests to a target server, aiming to assess its resilience or, in malicious contexts, to overwhelm it.

The tool became widely known for its association with cyber activism and hacktivist groups such as Anonymous, who employed LOIC to launch coordinated DoS attacks against various organizations and websites. Its user-friendly graphical interface simplifies the process of launching attacks, making it accessible to individuals with little technical expertise.

LOIC operates by flooding a target IP address with excessive traffic, which can potentially disrupt or disable the targeted service. While intended as a legitimate testing tool, its misuse for malicious attacks raises legal and ethical concerns. The software is written in C# and is available for Windows systems.

Since its release in 2006, LOIC has undergone various modifications and forks, with some versions adding features like proxy support or command-line operation. Despite its effectiveness for stress testing, it does not include sophisticated attack techniques and can be detected and mitigated by modern security defenses.

Due to its association with illegal activities, the use of LOIC against targets without authorization is considered illegal in many jurisdictions. Its primary purpose remains as a tool for security professionals to evaluate network robustness, but it is often misused for cyberattacks by malicious actors.