Google launches Project Shield to combat DDoS attacks

Google has launched Project Shield to provide free denial of service attack protection for news outlets, charities and activists.

The company would offer its years of beefed up infrastructure to the sites in the name of freedom of expression.

“This is going to make a real difference for freedom of expression online, protecting small websites that have powerful adversaries and would not normally be able to protect themselves against targeted DDoS attacks,” former Google security head Shuman Ghosemajumder said.

The strategy vice president at Shape Security said the project would raise awareness of the need for DDoS protection.

Google could not yet guarantee protection against DDoS attacks under the initiative.

"I think the logical next steps would be to build on the success they demonstrate with this initial set of freedom of speech-related websites and expand the service to include more humanitarian causes around the world,” Ghosemajumder said.

"In the future, I think every hosting internet service provider will provide these types of services. I could also imagine Google providing this as a commercial service in the future, as it certainly has the most DDoS-resistant infrastructure of any organisation.”

A Google spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

This article originally appeared at scmagazineus.com