[Update]: A second DDoS attack struck Extra Life today.
[Update]: Extra Life's website is back online and ready to accept donations. Please help those in need if you can. Let's hope whoever DDoS'd the charity will get what's coming to them.
[Original]:Extra Life streams have been raising money for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals charities that give video games to terminally ill children, but that was interrupted this weekend by a distributed denial of service attack against the foundation's data center.
A distributed denial of service or DDoS attack overwhelms a site with false visitors, making it impossible for real visitors to get in and give money to help children. A message from the charity's organizers says:
I am not sure what kind of person would DDoS a charitable intiative. I am so sorry that you are going through this frustration today. Our entire team is purely heartbroken that someone would do this. But it has happened.
As frustrating as this is for everyone involved, it pales in comparison to what the kids we're trying to save go through. That reality, for me personally, is about the only thing keeping me somewhat calm now.
I am very angry and very sorry. You deserve better than this. The kids deserve better than this. Extra Life has given a lot of us some of the happiest moments in our lives. This is not one of those moments.
Of course, I wouldn't blame Extra Life for this unhappy moment. I'd blame the nature of the internet, what it means to be anonymous and how little responsibility people have when they go online.
Follow PlayStation LifeStyle's Extra Life 25 Hour Live Stream for more and to donate.
**Thanks to Clint for the correction.
