A distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack is an attempt to make a machine or network resource unavailable to its intended users.
More and more, these efforts to interrupt or shut down services of a host connected to the Internet are being used–even more globally than in the US, according to Advisen’s Loss Insight database.
According to Arbor Networks, a provider of services to help block DDoS assaults, there has been a “renaissance in DDoS attacks,” with new techniques and innovations.
“Today, DDoS has evolved into a series of attacks that include very high volume, along with more subtle and difficult to detect attacks that target applications as well as existing security infrastructure such as firewalls and IPS,” the company says,
High-profile cases include recent DDoS attacks against Sony’s Playstation Network and other online gaming platforms, allegedly by a hacktivist or group calling itself “Lizard Squad.”
The reason appeared to be anger at corporate greed, with the group’s Twitter account reporting, “Why do we do it? Multi-million dollar companies aren’t spending your money to ensure your game has good service. DDoS is so old it’s funny.”
A loosely affiliated international group of individuals referred to as “Anonymous” can also be traced to some DDoS attacks, like the ones against businesses who opposed and distanced themselves from WikiLeaks after the site posted classified documents from the US government.
Over time, Advisen data show the Services industry is the most victimized by DDos attacks.
The data also show DDoS are fairly expensive, with 60 percent of events resulting in a loss of nearly $100,000. About 30 percent of DDos events reach a loss of $1 million.
But consider this. An Arbor Networks survey found 38 percent of respondents had seen more than 21 attacks per month in 2014. That’s up from just over 25 percent in 2013.
California, Washington, Vermont and New Hampshire are on the hot side of our heat map showing the frequency of DDos attacks per company, by state.
Chad Hemenway is Managing Editor of Advisen News. He has more than 15 years of journalist experience at a variety of online, daily, and weekly publications. He has covered P&C insurance news since 2007, and he has experience writing about all P&C lines as well as regulation and litigation. Chad won a Jesse H. Neal Award for Best Single Article in 2014 for his coverage of the insurance implications of traumatic brain injuries and Best News Coverage in 2013 for coverage of Superstorm Sandy. Contact Chad at 212.897.4824 or [email protected].
