TECHNIQUES FOR GENERATING SIGNATURES CHARACTERIZING ADVANCED APPLICATION LAYER FLOOD ATTACK TOOLS

A method of characterization of requests using dynamic applicative signatures. The method comprises determining a plurality of different attributes of requests received during an on-going DDOS attack; clustering at least one attribute of the plurality of different attributes, wherein the clustering is based on values of the plurality of different attributes; obtaining at least one dynamic applicative signature characterizing operation of an application layer flood attack tool; matching the cluster of the at least one attribute to each of the at least one obtained dynamic applicative signature; and causing a mitigation action when there is a match to the at least one obtained dynamic applicative signature.