Rust Dedicated Server: DDoS Protection and Mitigation Strategies
Rust is one of the most competitively targeted games for DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks. For a dedicated server owner, a single "booter" attack can ruin the reputation of a wipe. In 2026, standard firewall rules are no longer enough; you need game-aware mitigation.
๐ก๏ธ Anycast Network
Distributes incoming traffic across dozens of global nodes. If one node is attacked, the others stay online, keeping your players connected.
๐ Game-Layer Filtering
Specific filters that recognize Rust's RakNet protocol and drop malicious packets before they even reach your server's CPU.
Why Standard Hosting Fails
Most "budget" hosting providers offer generic DDoS protection that detects volume (Gbps). However, Rust servers are often attacked using "Application Layer" methods that send small amounts of data designed to overwhelm the game's networking thread. To mitigate this:
- RCON Isolation: Never use the same port for RCON and Game traffic. If your game port is flooded, you can still access the console.
- UDP Scrubbing: Use a provider that scrubs UDP traffic at the edge. Rust relies entirely on UDP; generic TCP protection will ignore these attacks.
Configuring for Resilience
While hardware is the first line of defense, your Rust dedicated server configuration can help:
server.queryport "28016"
server.ip "0.0.0.0"
server.tickrate "30"Ensure your Query Port is different from your play port. This prevents "Steam Browser Flooding" from hiding your server from the master list while it's under attack.
Anti-DDoS Tip: Hide your server's true IP using a reverse proxy or a specialized hosting provider like Supercraft. If an attacker doesn't have your backend IP, they can't bypass the scrubbing filters.
Enterprise-Grade Rust Hosting
Protect your players and your wipe. At Supercraft, our Rust dedicated server hosting includes 12Tbps Anycast DDoS protection with game-specific filters for the RakNet protocol, ensuring 24/7 availability even during the most intense competitive wipes.