SYSTEM AND METHOD TO DETECT AND MITIGATE TCP WINDOW ATTACKS

A computer system and method for monitoring traffic for determining denial of service attacks in a network. Data packets are monitored which are attempting to access one or more server devices in a protected network. A Transport Control Protocol (TCP) window advertisement value is determined for the data packets. If a detected TCP window advertisement value for monitored packets is determined less than a TCP window advertisement threshold value then a determination is made as to whether the data rate for the packets is less than a data rate threshold value. The monitored packets are determined malicious if the detected window advertisement value is less than the TCP window advertisement threshold value and the determined data rate is less than the data rate threshold value.