September 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of the first DDoS attack, a significant milestone in the cybersecurity world. On September 6, 1996, Panix, New York’s oldest commercial internet provider, experienced the initial known SYN flood DDoS attack.
Since then, DDoS attacks have grown in prevalence, reach, and impact, necessitating a call to action. Despite technological advancements, DDoS attacks have remained a constant threat.
They are still a simple and cost-effective method to disrupt businesses, thus retaining their relevance. Bot networks, due to their availability and affordability, continue to serve as the primary attack delivery mechanism.
Their increased size and computing power have significantly amplified the impact of DDoS attacks, leading to an annual growth of approximately 20%. Though regulations like the US Federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act impose severe penalties on DDoS attacks, the enforcement remains inadequate.
As a result, DDoS attacks are considered a cost of doing business, with IT and security teams primarily adopting a tactical, reactionary approach. The motives behind DDoS attacks have evolved, with economic gain becoming a significant driver.
The rise of cryptocurrency has facilitated ransom payments and made it harder to trace bad actors, turning DDoS attacks into a lucrative business model. Furthermore, the accessibility of DDoS attack services and tools, even on the dark web, has lowered the barrier to entry into this criminal activity.
The open sourcing of DDoS attack source codes on the dark web complicates law enforcement efforts and elevates the status of the perpetrators within the criminal community. Additionally, the advance of 5G networks and the exponential growth of IoT devices present new challenges.
The super-fast 5G networks and the proliferation of vulnerable IoT devices provide fertile ground for larger and more damaging DDoS attacks. As DDoS attacks become more commonplace and severe, the need for innovative and autonomous DDoS mitigation strategies becomes increasingly urgent.
Without swift evolution of security best practices and law enforcement, the advantage will continue to tilt in favor of the perpetrators.