Objective: help you identify real problems, avoid bad technical decisions and choose a solution adapted to your server or infrastructure.
L3: the network layer
L3 attacks mainly seek to saturate IP connectivity: massive volume, forged packets, fragmentation or abnormal traffic. The goal is to make the address or link unavailable.
L4: the transport layer
L4 attacks target TCP or UDP: SYN flood, ACK flood, UDP flood, amplification or specific ports. For gaming, this is a critical layer because a lot of legitimate traffic uses UDP.
L7: the application layer
L7 attacks mimic more user behavior: HTTP requests, endpoints, downloads or repeated connections. They can be less volumetric but very disturbing.
Why gaming is special
A game server can receive short, fast and variable streams. Filtering must be precise so as not to block legitimate players while removing attack patterns.
Choose the right solution
For a website, a WAF may be sufficient in certain cases. For a FiveM, Minecraft server or network infrastructure, a more specific approach is required: network filtering, proxy, adapted rules and responsive technical support.
Conclusion
The best approach is to start from the real symptom, check the technical causes, then choose protection adapted to the protocol and the community. An effective solution must protect without degrading the user experience.