In recent years, the world of data, networks, and applications has become incredibly interconnected and exposed, making them vulnerably to attack. Organizations of all sizes are now susceptible to Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. DDoS attacks are an amplifier attack type where requests are automatically sent to a target from multiple sources, resulting in overwhelming traffic which the target system attempt to process, denying it access to legitimate traffic. DDoS attackers have found new and sophisticated ways to deliver DDoS attacks that are both alarming and difficult to detect.
By exploiting the internet of things (IoT), attackers use ‘botnet’ connected devices to generate large amounts of traffic that overwhelms victims. A botnet is a collection of computers and other devices connected to the internet that can be used to launch malicious attacks such as DDoS. Hackers use numerous methods to gain unauthorized access to computers or even consumer devices such as web cameras or routers and use them in a coordinated attack. These can be used to generate large amounts of traffic to a targeted website or server, making it difficult to distinguish between genuine and malicious traffic.
Another form of sophisticated DDoS attack is called ‘amplification’. This is an attack technique in which attackers send small requests to a third-party server and ask it to send a much larger response to the target website or server. The aim of the attack is to flood the target with a large amount of traffic that it cannot handle, resulting in a denial of service.
In addition, attackers are using “application layer” DDoS attacks. These attacks involve targeting specific web applications with malicious requests. The goal of these attacks is to take down websites or applications by exploiting the vulnerabilities in those applications. Attackers can also use application layer DDoS attacks to gain access to databases or steal sensitive data.
The sophistication of DDoS attacks has been alarming and difficult to detect. Organizations must adopt proactive measures to detect and mitigate these sophisticated attack techniques. Organizations can implement network security technologies such as firewalls, malware protection, and intrusion prevention systems that can detect malicious traffic and halt DDoS attacks. It is also essential for organizations to continuously monitor their network and implement secure practices such as patching and user access control.
Overall, as DDoS attackers find new and alarming ways to deliver DDoS attacks, it is important for organizations of all sizes to take the necessary steps to identify and protect themselves from these sophisticated attacks.
