By way of straight numbers, there have been fewer distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) assaults in 2021, and the common measurement of assaults additionally dropped. However the truth that there have been 13% fewer DDoS assaults in 2021 over the earlier 12 months isn’t quite a bit to cheer about when cybersecurity groups are nonetheless grappling with assault volumes far above pre-pandemic ranges, in keeping with new analysis.
Nexusguard analysts say that in 2021 the highest DDoS assault vectors had been person datagram protocol (UDP) assaults, area title system (DNS) amplification assaults, and transmission management protocol protocol acknowledgement (ACK) assaults.
Notably, ACK assaults are on the rise, accounting for 9.7% of DDoS assaults in 2021, up from 3.7% in 2020. Numbers for DNS and UDP DDoS assaults had been nonetheless excessive sufficient to maintain them within the prime two, however each accounted for a smaller share of assaults in contrast with 2020, in keeping with Nexusguard.
Whereas the common assault measurement fell by 50% over 2021, the utmost assault measurement practically tripled, so actually massive assaults are nonetheless an issue.
“Assault vectors are additionally in flux, as a result of whereas UDP assaults are nonetheless the most typical, TCP ACK, which might exponentially amplify the impact of a DDoS occasion with a small quantity of visitors, rose considerably,” Juniman Kasman, chief expertise officer of Nexusguard, stated in regards to the new DDoS analysis.
