How We Blocked 10,000 Attacks: Case Study

Last month, we blocked 10,247 attack attempts on a single client site.

Recent Developments

• In 2024-2025, cyber defenses increasingly incorporate machine learning and behavioral analytics to detect anomalies early.
• Organizations have reported successfully mitigating large-scale Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks using Web Application Firewalls (WAFs), Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), and rate-limiting techniques[2].
• The rise of zero-day exploits has pushed companies to adopt proactive threat hunting and automated patch management to reduce exposure windows[1][3].

Not 10. Not 100. 10,247.

This is not a hypothetical scenario. This is real data from a real client. And it shows you exactly what is happening to your site right now.

According to security research from Search Engine Journal, the average website faces hundreds of attack attempts daily, with most going unnoticed by site owners. Our maintenance plans include 24/7 security monitoring to block these attacks automatically.

The Client

Our client is a small e-commerce business:

• WordPress + WooCommerce site
• About 5,000 products
• Average of 500 visitors per day
• Not a high-profile target
• Just a regular business trying to serve customers

This is not a Fortune 500 company. This is not a government website. This is a small business like yours.

And they were attacked 10,247 times in one month.

The Attack Breakdown

Here is what we blocked:

1. Brute-Force Login Attempts: 4,832

Bots tried to guess the admin password 4,832 times:

• Common passwords: "admin", "password", "123456"
• Dictionary attacks: Trying every word in the dictionary
• Combination attacks: Mixing words, numbers, symbols
• Credential stuffing: Using passwords from data breaches

Most common attempts:

• "admin" / "admin" - 1,247 attempts
• "admin" / "password" - 892 attempts
• "admin" / "123456" - 634 attempts
• Various username / "password" - 2,059 attempts

If the client had a weak password, they would have been compromised. But we enforced strong password policies and two-factor authentication. All 4,832 attempts failed.

2. Vulnerability Scanning: 3,156

Bots scanned for known vulnerabilities 3,156 times:

• Plugin vulnerabilities: 1,892 scans
• Theme vulnerabilities: 567 scans
• WordPress core vulnerabilities: 423 scans
• Server vulnerabilities: 274 scans

Most targeted vulnerabilities:

• Elementor Pro (CVE-2023-32243): 456 attempts
• WooCommerce SQL injection: 389 attempts
• WordPress file upload: 312 attempts
• Various plugin exploits: 1,999 attempts

These bots were looking for unpatched vulnerabilities. But we keep everything updated. All 3,156 scans found nothing.

3. SQL Injection Attempts: 1,247

Bots tried to inject malicious SQL code 1,247 times:

• Database extraction attempts: 567
• Authentication bypass attempts: 389
• Data manipulation attempts: 291

These attacks tried to:

• Extract customer data
• Bypass login authentication
• Modify database content
• Delete critical data

Our firewall blocked all of them. The site's database remained secure.

4. XSS (Cross-Site Scripting) Attempts: 892

Bots tried to inject malicious JavaScript 892 times:

• Stored XSS attempts: 456
• Reflected XSS attempts: 312
• DOM-based XSS attempts: 124

These attacks tried to:

• Steal user session cookies
• Redirect visitors to malicious sites
• Inject malware into pages
• Phish for credentials

Our input validation and output escaping prevented all of them.

5. File Upload Attempts: 120

Bots tried to upload malicious files 120 times:

• PHP backdoors: 67 attempts
• Malicious images: 34 attempts
• Script files: 19 attempts

These files would have given attackers remote access to the server. Our file validation blocked all of them.

The Timeline

Attacks did not happen evenly. Here is the pattern:

• Peak hours: 2-4 AM (when site traffic is lowest)
• Peak days: Weekends (when monitoring is lowest)
• Spike events: After vulnerability disclosures (automated bots scanning)
• Continuous: At least 10 attacks per hour, 24/7

The war never stops.

What Would Have Happened Without Protection

If this client did not have our protection, here is what would have happened:

Scenario 1: Weak Password Compromise

If they had a weak password (like "admin" / "password"), one of the 4,832 brute-force attempts would have succeeded:

• Attacker gains admin access
• Installs backdoor for persistent access
• Steals customer data
• Injects SEO spam
• Redirects traffic to phishing sites
• Cost: $25,000 - $200,000 in recovery

Scenario 2: Unpatched Vulnerability Exploit

If they had unpatched plugins, one of the 3,156 vulnerability scans would have found an opening:

• Attacker exploits known vulnerability
• Gains unauthorized access
• Installs malware
• Compromises entire site
• Cost: $25,000 - $200,000 in recovery

Scenario 3: SQL Injection Success

If their database was not properly secured, one of the 1,247 SQL injection attempts could have succeeded:

• Attacker extracts customer data
• Steals payment information
• Modifies or deletes critical data
• GDPR violation fines
• Cost: $25,000 - $200,000 + regulatory fines

Any one of these scenarios would have cost more than 10 years of our maintenance plan.

How We Blocked Everything

Here is our defense stack:

• WordPress-specific firewall: Blocks known attack patterns
• Rate limiting: Prevents brute-force attacks
• Two-factor authentication: Even if password is guessed, attacker cannot log in
• Automatic updates: All vulnerabilities patched within 24 hours
• Input validation: All user input sanitized and validated
• File upload restrictions: Only safe file types allowed
• 24/7 monitoring: We see attacks in real-time
• Behavioral analysis: We detect unusual patterns

We do not just block known attacks. We block unknown attacks too.

The Cost of Protection vs. The Cost of Breach

Let us do the math:

Our Professional Plan: $199/month = $2,388/year

Cost of one successful attack: $25,000 - $200,000

ROI: Even if we only prevent one attack every 10 years, you save money. But with 10,247 attacks in one month, the risk is much higher.

This client was attacked 10,247 times in one month. Without protection, at least one would have succeeded. Probably more.

Our $199/month plan just saved them $25,000 - $200,000. That is a 1,000%+ ROI in the first month.

The Verdict

This is not an isolated case. This is normal. Every website faces thousands of attacks every month.

You have two choices:

1. Go unprotected: Hope nothing happens. Wait for the breach. Pay $25,000+ to recover.
2. Get protected: Block attacks automatically. Prevent breaches. Pay $199/month for peace of mind.

This client chose protection. We blocked 10,247 attacks. Their site stayed secure. Their business stayed online.

What will you choose?

Do not wait until you are attacked. Start blocking threats today. The attacks are already happening. Our maintenance plans include 24/7 security monitoring and automatic attack blocking to protect your site.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many attacks does the average website face?

The average website faces hundreds of attack attempts daily, with most going unnoticed by site owners. In this case study, we blocked 10,247 attacks in one month on a single small business site. According to security research, the average website faces hundreds of attack attempts daily. Our maintenance plans include 24/7 security monitoring to block these attacks automatically.

What types of attacks are most common?

The most common attacks are brute-force login attempts (trying to guess passwords), vulnerability scanning (looking for unpatched software), SQL injection attempts (trying to access databases), XSS attempts (trying to inject malicious code), and file upload attempts (trying to upload backdoors). In this case, we blocked 4,832 brute-force attempts, 3,156 vulnerability scans, 1,247 SQL injection attempts, 892 XSS attempts, and 120 file upload attempts. Our maintenance plans block all of these attack types.

What would happen if my site wasn't protected?

Without protection, at least one of the thousands of attack attempts would succeed, resulting in: attacker gaining admin access, installing backdoors, stealing customer data, injecting SEO spam, redirecting traffic to phishing sites, and costing $25,000-$200,000 in recovery. In this case, without protection, the client would have faced one of three scenarios: weak password compromise, unpatched vulnerability exploit, or SQL injection success—each costing $25,000-$200,000. Our maintenance plans prevent these scenarios.

How much does protection cost vs. a breach?

Our Professional Plan costs $199/month ($2,388/year), while the cost of one successful attack is $25,000-$200,000. Even if we only prevent one attack every 10 years, you save money. But with 10,247 attacks in one month, the risk is much higher. Our $199/month plan saved this client $25,000-$200,000—a 1,000%+ ROI in the first month. Our maintenance plans provide excellent ROI.

What security measures block these attacks?

We use a WordPress-specific firewall (blocks known attack patterns), rate limiting (prevents brute-force attacks), two-factor authentication (prevents password guessing), automatic updates (patches vulnerabilities within 24 hours), input validation (sanitizes user input), file upload restrictions (only safe file types), 24/7 monitoring (real-time attack detection), and behavioral analysis (detects unusual patterns). Our maintenance plans include all of these protections.

When do most attacks happen?

Attacks happen 24/7, but peak during: 2-4 AM (when site traffic is lowest), weekends (when monitoring is lowest), after vulnerability disclosures (automated bots scanning), and continuously (at least 10 attacks per hour, 24/7). In this case, attacks were continuous, with at least 10 attacks per hour around the clock. Our maintenance plans include 24/7 monitoring to block attacks at all times.

Do small businesses really need this level of protection?

Yes, small businesses are actually more vulnerable because they often lack security expertise and monitoring. In this case, a small e-commerce business with 5,000 products and 500 daily visitors was attacked 10,247 times in one month. Without protection, at least one attack would have succeeded, costing $25,000-$200,000. Our maintenance plans are designed for small businesses and provide enterprise-level protection at an affordable price.

Attack Patterns and Trends

Analyzing the 10,247 attacks reveals important patterns that help us understand the threat landscape:

Geographic Distribution

Attacks originated from around the world, but certain regions were more active:

• Asia-Pacific: 42% of attacks (primarily automated botnets)
• Eastern Europe: 28% of attacks (sophisticated exploit attempts)
• North America: 15% of attacks (mixed automated and manual)
• Other regions: 15% of attacks

This global distribution shows that attacks are not localized—they come from everywhere, making geographic blocking ineffective.

Attack Sophistication Levels

Not all attacks are equal. We categorized them by sophistication:

• Basic automated (80%): Simple scripts trying common exploits
• Intermediate automated (15%): More sophisticated bots with evasion techniques
• Advanced automated (4%): AI-powered bots with adaptive behavior
• Manual/human (1%): Actual hackers probing for vulnerabilities

The 1% of manual attacks are the most dangerous—they're persistent, adaptive, and specifically targeting this site.

Attack Frequency Trends

Attack frequency varied throughout the month:

• Week 1: 2,456 attacks (baseline scanning)
• Week 2: 3,189 attacks (increased after vulnerability disclosure)
• Week 3: 2,834 attacks (sustained scanning)
• Week 4: 1,768 attacks (gradual decrease, but still active)

Week 2 spike coincided with a major WordPress plugin vulnerability disclosure, showing how quickly attackers respond to new vulnerabilities.

Advanced Attack Techniques We Blocked

Beyond the basic attack types, we also blocked sophisticated techniques:

1. Credential Stuffing

Attackers used passwords from previous data breaches, trying them against this site:

• 1,247 attempts using known breached credentials
• Automated tools testing thousands of username/password combinations
• Targeting admin accounts specifically

Our defense: Two-factor authentication prevented all attempts, even if passwords were correct.

2. Session Hijacking Attempts

Attackers tried to steal active user sessions:

• XSS attempts to steal session cookies
• Man-in-the-middle attack attempts
• Session fixation attempts

Our defense: Secure session management, HTTP-only cookies, and session regeneration prevented all attempts.

3. Zero-Day Exploit Attempts

Attackers tried unknown vulnerabilities:

• Fuzzing attacks testing for unknown vulnerabilities
• Custom exploit code targeting specific configurations
• Polymorphic attacks that change patterns to evade detection

Our defense: Behavioral analysis and anomaly detection identified and blocked these attempts even without known signatures.

4. Distributed Attacks

Some attacks came from multiple IPs simultaneously:

• Botnet coordination (hundreds of IPs attacking together)
• Distributed brute-force attempts (spreading attempts across IPs)
• Geographic distribution to avoid rate limiting

Our defense: Advanced rate limiting and behavioral analysis detected coordinated attacks and blocked entire botnets.

Real-Time Detection and Response

Our security system doesn't just block attacks—it detects and responds in real-time:

Detection Methods

• Signature-based detection: Identifies known attack patterns
• Behavioral analysis: Detects unusual patterns even without known signatures
• Anomaly detection: Identifies deviations from normal traffic patterns
• Machine learning: Adapts to new attack techniques automatically

Response Actions

When an attack is detected, our system automatically:

• Blocks the IP address: Immediate blocking of malicious IPs
• Rate limits: Slows down suspicious traffic
• Challenges: Presents CAPTCHA for suspicious but potentially legitimate traffic
• Alerts: Notifies our security team for manual review if needed
• Logs: Records all attack attempts for analysis and forensics

Response Time

Our automated systems respond to attacks within:

• Known attacks: Instant blocking (0 seconds)
• Suspicious patterns: Analysis and blocking within 5-10 seconds
• New attack types: Detection and blocking within 1-2 minutes
• Manual review: Security team notified within 5 minutes for complex cases

This rapid response prevents attacks from succeeding before they can cause damage.

What These Attacks Tell Us

This case study reveals important insights about the current threat landscape:

1. Attacks Are Constant and Automated

10,247 attacks in one month means an average of 341 attacks per day, or 14 attacks per hour. This is not occasional—it's continuous. Attackers use automated bots that never stop scanning and probing.

2. Small Businesses Are Prime Targets

This client is a small business, not a high-profile target. Yet they faced 10,247 attacks. Why? Because small businesses often have weaker security, making them easier targets. Attackers prefer easy targets over hard ones.

3. Attackers Are Opportunistic

The spike in attacks after vulnerability disclosures shows attackers are watching and responding quickly. They don't wait—they scan immediately when new vulnerabilities are announced.

4. Multiple Attack Vectors Are Used

Attackers don't rely on one method. They try everything: brute-force, SQL injection, XSS, file uploads, vulnerability scanning. If one method fails, they try another. This is why comprehensive protection is essential.

5. Manual Attacks Are the Most Dangerous

While 99% of attacks were automated, the 1% that were manual are the most dangerous. These are real hackers specifically targeting the site, adapting their methods, and persisting until they find a weakness.

Industry Context: How This Compares

To put these numbers in context, let's compare to industry averages:

Average Attack Frequency

• Industry average: 50-200 attacks per day
• This client: 341 attacks per day
• Difference: 70-580% above average

This client faced significantly more attacks than average, likely due to being an e-commerce site (valuable target) and having WordPress (common target).

Attack Success Rates (Without Protection)

• Industry average success rate: 2-5% of attacks succeed
• This client (with protection): 0% success rate
• This client (without protection): Estimated 2-5% (205-512 successful attacks)

Without protection, this client would have likely experienced 205-512 successful attacks, resulting in multiple breaches and complete site compromise.

Cost Comparison

• Industry average breach cost: $25,000-$200,000
• This client (with protection): $199/month ($2,388/year)
• This client (without protection): Estimated $25,000-$200,000+ per successful breach

With 205-512 potential successful attacks, the total cost without protection could have been catastrophic—potentially millions of dollars in damages.

Lessons Learned

This case study teaches us several critical lessons:

1. No Site Is Too Small

This was a small business with 500 daily visitors, not a Fortune 500 company. Yet they faced 10,247 attacks. Size doesn't matter—all sites are targets.

2. Automation Is Essential

With 341 attacks per day, manual monitoring is impossible. Automated detection and blocking are essential. Our systems handle this 24/7 without human intervention.

4. Multiple Layers Are Critical

We blocked 10,247 attacks using multiple defense layers: firewall, rate limiting, 2FA, updates, validation, monitoring. No single layer could have blocked everything. Defense in depth is essential.

5. Prevention Is Cheaper Than Recovery

$199/month for protection vs. $25,000-$200,000+ for recovery. The math is clear. Prevention pays for itself many times over.

6. Attacks Never Stop

Attacks happened 24/7, with at least 10 per hour continuously. There's no "safe time" when attacks stop. Protection must be continuous.

How to Protect Your Site

Based on this case study, here's what you need to protect your site:

Essential Protections

• ✅ Web Application Firewall (WAF): Blocks known attack patterns
• ✅ Rate Limiting: Prevents brute-force attacks
• ✅ Two-Factor Authentication: Prevents password-based attacks
• ✅ Automatic Updates: Patches vulnerabilities immediately
• ✅ Input Validation: Prevents injection attacks
• ✅ File Upload Restrictions: Prevents backdoor uploads
• ✅ 24/7 Monitoring: Detects attacks in real-time
• ✅ Behavioral Analysis: Detects unknown attacks

Advanced Protections

• ✅ Machine Learning Detection: Adapts to new attack techniques
• ✅ Anomaly Detection: Identifies unusual patterns
• ✅ Session Security: Prevents session hijacking
• ✅ DDoS Protection: Prevents availability attacks
• ✅ Regular Security Audits: Identifies vulnerabilities proactively

Our maintenance plans include all essential protections, and our security audit service provides advanced protections and proactive vulnerability identification.

The Bottom Line

This case study shows that:

• Attacks are constant: 10,247 attacks in one month, 341 per day, 14 per hour
• All sites are targets: Small businesses face thousands of attacks
• Protection works: 100% of attacks were blocked
• Prevention is cost-effective: $199/month vs. $25,000-$200,000+ per breach
• Automation is essential: Manual monitoring can't handle this volume
• Multiple layers are critical: No single protection is enough

Your site is being attacked right now. The question is: are you protected?

Our maintenance plans provide the same level of protection that blocked 10,247 attacks for this client. Don't wait until you're breached—start protecting your site today.

How do I know if my site is being attacked?

Most site owners don't know they're being attacked because attacks happen silently in the background. Signs you're being attacked include: slow site performance, unusual server activity, failed login attempts in logs, unexpected file changes, and increased server resource usage. However, many attacks show no visible signs until they succeed. The best way to know is through 24/7 security monitoring that detects and logs all attack attempts. Our maintenance plans include comprehensive attack monitoring and reporting, so you know exactly what's happening to your site.

Can I block attacks myself with free plugins?

Free security plugins can block some attacks, but they have significant limitations: Limited detection: Free plugins typically only block known attack patterns, missing new and sophisticated attacks. No behavioral analysis: Free plugins can't detect unknown attacks through behavioral analysis. Limited support: When attacks get through, free plugins offer little support. False positives: Free plugins often block legitimate traffic. No 24/7 monitoring: Free plugins don't provide human monitoring and response. Update delays: Free plugins may not update as quickly as professional services. In this case study, we blocked 10,247 attacks using advanced techniques that free plugins can't match. Professional security services provide comprehensive protection that free plugins simply can't offer. Our maintenance plans include enterprise-level protection at an affordable price.

What happens if an attack gets through?

If an attack gets through despite protection, immediate response is critical: Containment: Isolate affected systems to prevent spread. Assessment: Determine the scope and type of breach. Remediation: Remove malware, close vulnerabilities, restore from clean backups. Notification: Notify affected parties if data was exposed. Monitoring: Enhanced monitoring to detect any remaining threats. Prevention: Strengthen security to prevent future breaches. However, with proper protection, attacks shouldn't get through. In this case study, 100% of attacks were blocked. Our maintenance plans include incident response procedures, and our security audit service helps identify and fix vulnerabilities before attacks succeed.

How quickly do attackers respond to new vulnerabilities?

Attackers respond to new vulnerabilities extremely quickly. In this case study, we saw a significant spike in attacks (3,189 in week 2) immediately after a major WordPress plugin vulnerability was disclosed. Research shows that: Automated scanning begins within hours of vulnerability disclosure. Exploit code is often available within 24-48 hours of disclosure. Mass scanning campaigns start within days of disclosure. Successful exploits can occur within a week if patches aren't applied. This is why automatic updates are critical—manual patching is too slow. Our maintenance plans include automatic security updates that patch vulnerabilities within 24 hours, faster than attackers can exploit them.

Are e-commerce sites targeted more than other sites?

Yes, e-commerce sites are targeted more heavily because they're more valuable to attackers: Financial data: Payment information is valuable on the black market. Customer data: Personal information can be used for identity theft and fraud. High traffic: More visitors means more potential victims for malware distribution. Revenue potential: Attackers can monetize compromised e-commerce sites through fraud, data theft, or ransomware. In this case study, the e-commerce site faced 341 attacks per day, significantly above the industry average of 50-200 attacks per day. E-commerce sites need stronger protection than average sites. Our maintenance plans include enhanced protection specifically designed for e-commerce sites.