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Definition
An IP stresser is an online tool or service designed to simulate high levels of traffic directed at a network, server, or IP address to test its stability and performance under load. While these tools can be used for legitimate stress testing, they are often misused to carry out Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks.

Why it matters
While originally created for IT professionals to test infrastructure robustness, IP stressers are frequently abused by attackers to overwhelm systems and disrupt services. Their use against systems without permission is illegal in many jurisdictions and considered a cybercrime.

Example use case
A website administrator may use a legitimate IP stresser to simulate peak traffic conditions and ensure that their server can handle the load. Conversely, an attacker may use an IP stresser service to flood a gaming server and take it offline.