Massive Surge in DDoS Attacks Reported in First Quarter of 2023

StormWall, a premier cybersecurity firm specializing in the defense of websites, networks, and online services from Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, has published an in-depth report on the DDoS landscape during the first quarter of 2023.

The report stems from a detailed analysis of attacks targeting StormWall’s clientele, which spans various sectors such as finance, e-commerce, telecommunications, entertainment, transportation, education, and logistics. The study reveals a 47% YoY increase in DDoS attacks during Q1 2023, along with a disturbing rise in botnet deployment and an emerging trend of smokescreening to mask multi-vector incidents.

Perpetrators have shifted their focus to critical infrastructure and services like logistical systems, payment processing centers, and financial institutions, with the intent of impacting a larger user base. The average attack strength reached 1.4 Tbps, with the most prolonged attack persisting for four days.

The financial sector emerged as the primary target, accounting for 34% of attacks and witnessing a 68% YoY increase. E-commerce confronted significant challenges, withstanding 22% of attacks and a 51% increase compared to Q1 2022. Telecommunications continued to be a popular target, enduring 16% of attacks and a 47% YoY increase.

Botnets are becoming increasingly prevalent, with over 38% of DDoS attacks exploiting networks of compromised devices. Concurrently, smokescreening—a tactic where DDoS attacks act as diversions in multi-vector offensives—rose by 28% YoY.

Highly destructive HTTP attacks are becoming more accessible, resulting in 82.3% of DDoS attacks targeting the application layer (L7), 11.7% targeting the transport (L4) and network (L3) layers with packet floods, 2.3% targeting the DNS, and the remaining 3.7% aimed at other objectives.

Geographically, the United States (17.6% attack share), India (14.2%), and China (11.7%) remain the most targeted countries. However, the United Arab Emirates experienced a significant surge in attacks, with its proportion nearly doubling from 3.8% in Q1 2022 to 6.4% this year. Both Russia and Ukraine saw a decline in DDoS activity as hacktivism waned.

StormWall’s report underscores the intensifying threat of DDoS attacks, as demonstrated by the near-universal rise in attack volume, potency, and duration. With threat actors refining their strategies and incorporating DDoS attacks into multi-vector incidents, organizations must contend with not only outages caused by overwhelmed servers but also data breaches, ransomware, and other associated threats.

Drawing from data analysis of client-targeted attacks, StormWall forecasts a staggering 170% increase in DDoS attacks by the end of 2023. The firm strongly advises all businesses to seek professional DDoS protection to safeguard their operations in the coming year.

How to Protect Your Organization against DDoS Attacks

Implementing a robust DDoS protection strategy is essential for organizations to defend against these ever-evolving threats. Here are some best practices for effective DDoS mitigation:

1. Deploy a multi-layered defense strategy that includes protection at the application (L7), transport (L4), and network (L3) layers.
2. Utilize an on-premises and cloud-based hybrid DDoS protection solution to ensure optimal security and scalability.
3. Monitor and analyze network traffic to detect anomalies and potential threats in real-time.
4. Develop and maintain an incident response plan that outlines procedures for managing DDoS attacks, including roles, responsibilities, and communication protocols.
5. Leverage professional DDoS mitigation services to ensure round-the-clock protection, proactive threat intelligence, and immediate response to emerging threats.
6. Keep software, firmware, and security patches up to date to minimize vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers.
7. Train employees on cybersecurity best practices, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and reporting potential threats or anomalies.
8. Establish partnerships with your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and other stakeholders for coordinated defense and rapid response during an attack.
9. Regularly review and test your DDoS protection strategy to ensure its effectiveness and adapt to evolving threat landscapes.

By implementing these best practices, organizations can bolster their defenses against DDoS attacks and mitigate the risks associated with downtime, data breaches, and other cybersecurity threats.