The year 2023 saw a very worrying increase in distributed denial of service (DDOS) attacks. These attacks, which flood servers with traffic to render them inaccessible, have become a tool of choice for cybercriminals. As a recent article from Data Security Breach points out, this trend is alarming and requires special attention.
What exactly is a DDOS attack?
A DDOS attack is an attempt to render an online service unavailable by overwhelming its server with traffic from multiple sources. Cybercriminals often use networks of infected machines, known as “botnets”, to launch these attacks. Due to their effectiveness and ease of implementation, these kind of attacks have become a popular tool for cybercriminals.
A significant increase in this phenomenon
The year 2023 saw a significant increase in DDOS attacks. According to an article in Times Now News, this increase is partly due to a rise in hacktivism, where this means are used as a way of political or social protest.
Russian involvement
Russian involvement was particularly notable in 2023. According to an article in Zataz, Russian hackers were involved in several major DDOS attacks, notably in connection with Sudan. These attacks underline Russia’s growing role in the cyberattack landscape.
The main motivations behind DDOS attacks
The motivations are diverse. As noted in a Forbes article, they can be political, religious or simply a quest for notoriety. Whatever the motivation, the impact of these attacks is often devastating.
Major financial losses and compromised national security
DDOS attacks have serious consequences for governments, businesses and individuals. As an article in Tech Wire Asia points out, these attacks can cause major disruption, lead to financial losses and even compromise national security.
Take a proactive approach to these attacks
There are several security measures and strategies to protect against DDOS attacks. A guide from CISA highlights the importance of a proactive approach, which includes setting up intrusion detection and prevention systems, as well as preparing an incident response plan.
Case study: DDOS attack on AWS
The 2.3 Tbps DDOS attack on AWS in 2020 is a striking example of a major DDOS attack. As reported in a Tech Wire Asia article, this attack highlighted the growing threat DDOS attacks pose to large enterprises and critical infrastructures.
In conclusion
With the dramatic increase in DDOS attacks in 2023, it’s more important than ever to take steps to protect yourself. The SOS ransomware service is an expert in helping organizations deal with ransomware incidents. Don’t wait to be the next victim, take action today to secure your organization against DDOS attacks.
