In the digital age, the security of our systems is paramount. As we become more interconnected, the threats we face evolve and multiply. One such threat that has seen a significant surge in 2023 is botnet attacks, with a particular emphasis on brute force and denial of service (DoS) attacks.
The Current Landscape

According to a report from VentureBeat, botnet and DDoS attacks have become increasingly sophisticated and potent. Larger and more complex attacks make them harder to defend against. For instance, Simple Service Discovery Protocol (SSDP)-based DDoS attacks resulted in generating more than 30 times the traffic volume, making them some of the most devastating attacks by DDoS botnet agents.

The Threat of Ransom DDoS Attacks

The proliferation of ransom distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks is a significant concern for organizations. In these attacks, nefarious actors use DDoS attacks to extort a ransom payment, typically in the form of cryptocurrency. According to a survey conducted by Cloudflare, during the third quarter of 2022, 15% of its customers reported being targeted by HTTP DDoS attacks accompanied by a threat or ransom note, indicating a 15% quarter-over-quarter and 67% year-over-year increase in reported ransom DDoS attacks.

The Importance of Defense

The key to protecting against botnet and DDoS attacks is to focus on certain key metrics. These include the strength of capability (resilience/flexibility and deflection/neutralization), strength of adaptability (ability to pivot in response to changing attack vectors during an attack), and strength of reflex (ability to detect and mitigate from the beginning of an attack through any and all phases that follow).

The Future of Botnet and DDoS Attacks

In 2023, we should expect an uptick in the number of compromised devices being used for DDoS attacks. This will inevitably mean that the effectiveness of DDoS attacks will also increase. As more and more devices become connected to the internet (Internet of Things), the higher the likelihood that the size of botnets will increase, especially when one considers the rapidly evolving use of IoT in smart cities, connected vehicles, and smart tech in our homes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the threat of botnet and DDoS attacks is real and growing. It is crucial for organizations to take steps to understand how the threat of these attacks may impact their operations and look at the many service offerings offered by reputable security providers. The best defense is a proactive one, and in the face of these evolving threats, it’s more important than ever to fortify your systems.

IPBan Pro is a great solution to lockdown your servers and prevent endless botnets from having free rain to attack. Learn more about IPBan Pro Products.

Sources:
Venture Beat
Cloudflare