Security News > 2022 > March > Cybercriminals launched 9.75 million DDoS attacks in 2021

During the second half of 2021, cybercriminals launched approximately 4.4 million Distributed Denial of Service attacks, bringing the total number of DDoS attacks in 2021 to 9.75 million, a NETSCOUT report reveals.

The report details how the second half of 2021 established high-powered botnet armies and rebalanced the scales between volumetric and direct-path attacks, creating more sophisticated operating procedures for attackers and adding new tactics, techniques, and methods to their arsenals.

"While it may be tempting to look at the decrease in overall attacks as threat actors scaling back their efforts, we saw significantly higher activity compared to pre-pandemic levels," said Richard Hummel, threat intelligence lead, NETSCOUT. "The reality is that attackers are constantly innovating and adapting new techniques, including the use of server-class botnets, DDoS-for-Hire services, and increased used direct-path attacks that continually perpetuate the advancement of the threat landscape."

One VOIP service provider reported $9M-$12M in revenue loss due to DDoS attacks.

NETSCOUT examined 19 DDoS-for-Hire services and their capabilities that eliminate the technical requirements and cost of launching massive DDoS attacks.

A decrease in some amplification attacks drove down the number of total attacks.

News URL

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2022/03/28/ddos-attacks-2021/