Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting and mitigating overload conditions affecting one or more computers attached to a network, such as overloads resulting from distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, for example. According to some described embodiments, an attempted overload condition is detected, e.g., by a system, through following a method, or both, within a data cleaning center. Detection may be achieved, e.g., by analyzing data packets traveling over the network to identify packets that bear characteristics that may be associated with DDoS attacks, and this analysis may include examination of the packets' data payloads. Mitigation, in turn, may include discarding some data packets, redirecting network traffic, or some combination thereof.