For those not involved in the IT industry, or who use a Cloud VPS. OVHcloud is a leading global cloud services provider and one of the largest in Europe, reported mitigating a record-breaking distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack earlier this year, which reached an unprecedented rate of 840 million packets per second (Mpps). The company had noted a general trend of increasing attack sizes starting in 2023, with attacks surpassing 1 Tbps becoming more frequent and escalating to weekly and almost daily occurrences in 2024.
Over the past 18 months, multiple attacks sustained high bit rates and packet rates for extended periods, with the highest bit rate recorded by OVHcloud being 2.5 Tbps on May 25, 2024. This was the reporting from BleepingComputer.com by Bill Toulas
The Impact of a 2.5 Tbps DDoS Attack and the Growing Power of Botnets
An 2.5 Tbps (terabits per second) distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack represents a monumental threat to the stability and security of internet infrastructure. This level of attack involves overwhelming a target with a deluge of data, effectively crippling its ability to operate. The impact of such an attack is profound, causing significant disruption to services, financial losses, and potentially even wider economic ramifications. As botnets—the networks of compromised devices used to launch these attacks—have grown in power and sophistication over the years, the threat they pose has become increasingly severe.
The immediate impact(If not migitated) of a 2.5 Tbps DDoS attack is service disruption. This type of attack can incapacitate websites, online services, and even entire networks by saturating their bandwidth with excessive traffic. When a service is overwhelmed to this extent, legitimate users are unable to access it, leading to significant downtime. For businesses, this downtime can translate into substantial financial losses, not only from the disruption of services but also from the damage to their reputation and customer trust. E-commerce sites, financial institutions, and any online-dependent service can suffer severely from prolonged unavailability.
Moreover, the sheer scale of such an ddos attack that OVHCloud mitigated, can put enormous strain on the internet infrastructure if there were to be little to no anti-ddos protections. Other companies like Internet service providers (ISPs) and other backbone networks may struggle to handle such volumes of data, potentially leading to collateral damage affecting users far beyond the intended target. The cascading effects can disrupt communication, slow down internet speeds, and possibly create widespread connectivity issues. This broader impact underscores the vulnerability of interconnected systems and highlights the necessity for robust defensive measures across the board.
The evolution of botnets has played a crucial role in enabling such massive DDoS attacks. In the early days, botnets consisted of relatively small numbers of compromised computers. Today, however, botnets can comprise millions of devices, including not just traditional computers but also internet-connected devices like cameras, routers, and even household appliances. The proliferation of the Internet of Things (IoT) has dramatically increased the number of potential botnet members, providing attackers with unprecedented firepower. The infamous Mirai botnet, for example, demonstrated how easily IoT devices could be hijacked to launch devastating attacks.
The growing power of botnets is also a result of increasingly sophisticated malware. Modern botnet malware can spread rapidly, evade detection, and exploit various vulnerabilities to maintain control over infected devices. Cybercriminals are continually refining their tactics, using encryption and other techniques to mask their activities. As a result, the task of defending against botnets has become more complex, requiring advanced cybersecurity measures and constant vigilance. The arms race between attackers and defenders shows no signs of abating, with each side continually developing new strategies and technologies.
In conclusion, the ddos attack is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in our digital infrastructure and the escalating threat posed by powerful botnets. Such attacks can cause significant service disruptions, financial losses, and broader internet instability. The evolution of botnets, fueled by the proliferation of IoT devices and sophisticated malware, has amplified the potential for damage. As cyber threats continue to grow, it is imperative for organizations and individuals alike to invest in robust cybersecurity measures and stay informed about the latest developments in this ever-evolving field.
If you are curious and want to learn about OVHcloud or the industry, here are a few links down below:
Credit to Bill Toulas from BleepingComputer.com for his reporting
and to
OVHcloud
