5 Types of DDoS Attacks to Defend Against in 2016
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Smokescreen
Hackers have increasingly turned to DDoS attacks as a means of diverting IT's attention away from separate, and often times more damaging, behavior. When an attacker damages or completely brings down a company's network, the process for complete remediation can take days. Coupled with the fact that DDoS attacks are highly visible, both externally and internally, returning to business as usual becomes priority one for responders.
With the IT team's attention focused elsewhere, it is easy for otherwise alarming behavior to slip through the cracks. False-positives are already a common headache for those monitoring network activity, and during a time of crisis, it becomes much easier to neglect best practices and allow for incidents such as malware injection or data theft to occur.
You typically don't realize a DDoS attack is being used as a smokescreen for a larger security incident until it's too late. The best defense comes from ensuring that all normal cybersecurity processes are continued in the wake of an attack and never assuming the worst is over.
Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks continue to be one of the most prevalent methods hackers use to disrupt businesses. Involving the use of multiple systems (personal computers, smartphones, etc.), DDoS attacks overload an organization's network by generating web traffic that can't be accommodated by the system's capacity limits.
Unlike with other forms of cyber attacks, DDoS attackers run the gamut in terms of their technical prowess. With DDoS services available for purchase online, even the least tech-savvy teenager with a credit card is capable of taking down company web assets for hours and even days.
Due to the diversity amongst those carrying out DDoS attacks, ranging from high-school kids to state-sponsored hackers, the purpose behind separate incidents can vary significantly. For example, while an experienced cyber criminal may use a DDoS attack for diversionary purposes, a disgruntled employee may carry out an attack just for the sake of causing chaos. In this slideshow, A10 Networks has mapped out some of the most common motives for these attacks and describes the tell-tale signs.
Related Topics : Unisys, Stimulus Package, Security Breaches, Symantec, Electronic Surveillance
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