DDoS attacks are becoming a critical tool in geopolitical battles

Date:
Thu, 03 Apr 2025 09:50:56 +0000

Description:
Politically motivated critical infrastructure attacks are on the rise,
NetScout warns

FULL STORY

Distributed Denial of Service ( DDoS ) attacks are reportedly becoming a tool of choice for politically motivated cybercriminals, new research has
revealed.

Sociopolitical events like civil protests, elections, and policy disputes are increasingly playing out through digital platforms, and DDoS attacks are an effective way to erode trust in institutions and critical services, NETSCOUT research claims.

These intrusions are aimed at a wide range of industries, and are difficult
to defend against as they require constant vigilance and advanced
cybersecurity strategies, as shown by a recent Pro-Russian hacking group targeting critical infrastructure and public services through DDoS attacks which disrupted key utilities and companies.

The scale of the surge

A DDoS attack is a technique in which an attacker will flood a server with an enormous amount of traffic, overwhelming the site and making it impossible to access. The malicious traffic can cripple websites and infrastructure, and
can cause serious financial and reputational damage.

The nature of these attacks means they are very often politically motivated,
as opposed to ransomware attacks, for example, which are unsurprisingly
largely carried out for financial reasons.

According to the research, the second half of 2024 saw almost 9 million DDoS attacks, a 12.75% increase from the first six months. Israel in particular
saw a 2,844% increase in attacks, seeing a high of 519 in one day.

The above mentioned Russian hacking group, NoName057(16), focused primarily
on government services in the UK, Belgium, and Spain. Georgia also saw a
1,489% increase in attacks in the lead up to the Russia Bill, highlighting
its use as a political weapon.

DDoS has emerged as the go-to tool for cyberwarfare, stated Richard Hummel, director, threat intelligence, NETSCOUT.

NoName057(16) continues to be the leading actor for politically motivated
DDoS campaigns targeting governments, infrastructure, and organizations. In 2024, they repeatedly targeted government services in the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Spain.

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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/ddos-attacks-are-becoming-a-critical-to ol-in-geopolitical-battles

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