5 DDoS Myths Debunked

DDoS Targeting

Myth: A DDoS attack has never targeted us before, so it never will.

Fact: The odds are changing. It's never been easier to launch a DDoS attack. Combine this with the fact that there are many motivations behind DDoS attacks, and you'll see why there has been a dramatic rise in the number of attacks. Unfortunately, they are non-discriminating and it can happen to just about any vertical or size of business. As long as you have some form of internet presence, you could be the victim of a DDoS attack.

To compound this, new tools have enabled anyone with an internet connection and a grievance to launch a DDoS attack, and the cost to entry is low — both from the attacker's technical abilities and cost perspectives. For example, for less than $5 per hour, anyone – without any technical capabilities – can hire a “DDoS for Hire Service” to execute a DDoS attack. The mean cost to the attacker is very low, but the cost to the victim is about $500 per minute, according to ASERT.

This is a true game changer in terms of the threat landscape and all businesses should consider themselves a potential target of attack. No longer is it just certain verticals that are likely targets – such as finance, gaming and e-commerce. Today, any business, for any reason, any real or perceived offense or affliction, can become a target of a DDoS attack. A prime example of this is the recent 2016 Rio Olympics, where hacktivists targeted many organizations tangentially related to the Rio Olympics (i.e., ISPs, banks, sponsors) with DDoS attacks.