In the past few months, users of the Zyxel network have been particularly vulnerable to attack by a botnet calling itself DDoS, a type of malicious computer software used to take control of a system and launch a Denial of Service (DoS) attack on another network. The surge in attacks has made it the public nuisance number one for the last few months.
Recently, it was reported that over 100,000 unique targets had been attacked by DDoS in the span of five months. Many of these targeted devices were Zyxel users, who were particularly at risk for being controlled by this malicious botnet. DDoS is known for launching Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks in which multiple systems attack and overwhelm the target system. The result of such an attack can be very damaging, as the target system may suffer serious performance issues or even go offline entirely.
It’s unclear exactly why Zyxel users are particularly vulnerable to DDoS, but it could be because of specific weaknesses in the system’s firewalls or routers. It’s possible that the attackers were able to exploit those weaknesses in order to gain control of the system and launch their attack.
The good news is that users can take steps to protect their systems from these kinds of attacks. The first step is to ensure that the network devices and routers are updated with the latest firmware. This will help patch any security flaws that may be present. Next, users should make sure their firewall settings are configured correctly; in some cases, turning on “Intrusion Prevention System” (IPS) can help. Additionally, users can monitor traffic closely for any unusual activity and make sure to keep their systems up-to-date with the latest security patches.
Despite the measures we take, it’s important to remember that Zyxel users are far from alone in being targeted by botnets. All users of the internet are potential targets, and as such, should remain vigilant when it comes to their security. While Zyxel users may have been the public nuisance number one in recent months, it’s important to remember that this could be just the start of a much larger issue.