Threat report shows DDoS growth

Findings from the bi-annual NETSCOUT (www.netscout.com) Threat Intelligence Report shows that in the first half of 2021, cybercriminals launched approximately 5.4 million Distributed Denial of Services (DDoS) attacks, increasing 11% over 1H2020 figures.  Additionally, data projections from NETSCOUT's Active Level Threat Analysis System (ATLAS™) Security Engineering and Response Team (ASERT) point to 2021 as another record-setting year on track to surpass 11 million global DDoS attacks.

In the wake of Colonial Pipeline, JBS, Harris Federation, Australian broadcaster Channel Nine, CNA Financial, and several other high-profile attacks, the impact of DDoS and other cybersecurity attacks has been felt worldwide.  As a result, leading governments are introducing new programmes and policies to defend against attacks, and policing organizations are initiating unprecedented collaborative efforts to address the crisis.

During 1H2021, cybercriminals weaponized and exploited seven newer reflection/amplification DDoS attack vectors putting organizations at greater risk.  This attack vector explosion spurred an increase in multivector DDoS attacks with a record-setting 31 attack vectors deployed in a single attack against one organization.

“Cybercriminals are making front-page news launching an unprecedented number of DDoS attacks to take advantage of the pandemic’s remote work shift by undermining vital components of the connectivity supply chain,” says Richard Hummel, Threat Intelligence Lead, NETSCOUT.  “Ransomware gangs added triple-extortion DDoS tactics to their repertoire.  Simultaneously, the Fancy Lazarus DDoS extortion campaign kicked into high gear threatening organizations in multiple industries with a focus on ISPs and specifically their authoritative DNS servers.”

NETSCOUT's Threat Intelligence Report covers the latest trends and activities in the DDoS threat landscape.  It covers data secured from NETSCOUT's Active Level Threat Analysis System (ATLAS™) coupled with NETSCOUT's ATLAS Security Engineering & Response Team (ASERT) insights.

More details about the report can be found at https://www.netscout.com/threatreport/