In one implementation, a system for the prevention of malicious attack on a computing resource includes one or more processor; computer memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including: observing traffic flow of a network; altering a SYN threshold value based on the observing of the traffic flow of the network; comparing a metric of SYN messages submitted to the network; and based on the comparison of the metric of SYN messages submitted, selectively engaging corrective action with the network.