Internet firms report largest-ever DDoS attack.
By Raphael Satter
October 11, 2023 – 2:29 PM
Internet Giants Successfully Defend Against Massive Cyber Attack
WASHINGTON, Oct 11 (Reuters) – Internet companies Google, Amazon, and Cloudflare have announced that they have successfully defended against the largest-known denial of service attack on the internet. They are now warning about a new technique that could potentially cause widespread disruption.
In a blog post published on Tuesday, Google, owned by Alphabet Inc, revealed that its cloud services had fended off an avalanche of rogue traffic that was more than seven times larger than the previous record-breaking attack stopped last year.
Cloudflare, an internet protection company, stated that the attack was “three times larger than any previous attack we’ve observed.” Amazon.com’s web services division also confirmed being targeted by “a new type of distributed denial of service (DDoS) event.”
All three companies reported that the attack began in late August and Google stated that it is still ongoing.
Denial of service attacks overwhelm targeted servers with a flood of fake data requests, rendering it impossible for legitimate web traffic to pass through. As the online world has evolved, these attacks have become more powerful, with some capable of generating millions of bogus requests per second. The recent attacks measured by Google, Cloudflare, and Amazon were capable of generating hundreds of millions of requests per second.
Google’s blog post revealed that just two minutes of one attack “generated more requests than the total number of article views reported by Wikipedia during the entire month of September 2023.” Cloudflare described the attack as unprecedented in magnitude.
All three companies attributed the supersized attacks to a vulnerability in HTTP/2, a newer version of the HTTP network protocol that underpins the World Wide Web. They urged companies to update their web servers to eliminate this vulnerability.
None of the companies disclosed the identity of the attackers, as attribution for denial of service attacks has historically been challenging.
If not effectively countered, such attacks can lead to widespread disruption. In 2016, an attack attributed to the ”Mirai” network of hijacked devices targeted domain name service Dyn, causing significant disruptions to numerous high-profile websites.
The U.S. government’s cybersecurity watchdog, CISA, has not yet commented on the matter.
Reporting by Raphael SatterEditing by Sandra Maler
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Why is it important for organizations to update their web servers and enhance their cyber defenses, according to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
Rity agency, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), has issued a statement applauding the efforts of Google, Amazon, and Cloudflare in defending against the recent massive cyber attack. CISA also emphasized the need for continued vigilance and proactive measures to mitigate the risks posed by these types of attacks.
The attack, which began in late August and is still ongoing, highlighted the increasing power and sophistication of denial of service attacks. These attacks, which overwhelm servers with fake data requests, prevent legitimate web traffic from passing through, causing disruption for numerous websites and services.
Google reported that the recent attack was more than seven times larger than the previous record-breaking attack stopped last year. Cloudflare described it as three times larger than any previous attack they have observed. Amazon.com’s web services division also confirmed being targeted by a new type of distributed denial of service (DDoS) event.
One alarming aspect of these attacks is the speed and scale at which they occur. Google’s blog post revealed that just two minutes of the attack generated more requests than the total number of article views reported by Wikipedia during the entire month of September 2023. These attacks have the capacity to generate hundreds of millions of requests per second, significantly impacting the targeted servers.
The Internet companies attribute the supersized attacks to a vulnerability in HTTP/2, a newer version of the HTTP network protocol that is widely used. They have urged companies to update their web servers to eliminate this vulnerability and ensure the security of their systems.
The identity of the attackers remains undisclosed, as attribution for denial of service attacks has historically been challenging. However, the consequences of these attacks can be severe, leading to widespread disruption. The 2016 attack attributed to the “Mirai” network of hijacked devices targeted domain name service Dyn, causing significant disruptions to numerous high-profile websites.
In light of this recent attack, CISA advises organizations to enhance their cyber defenses and take necessary precautions. Companies should regularly update their systems, deploy robust security measures, and collaborate with cybersecurity experts to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.
The successful defense against this massive cyber attack serves as a reminder of the importance of staying vigilant in an increasingly interconnected world. As internet giants continue to evolve and enhance their defenses, cybercriminals are also becoming more sophisticated. It is crucial for organizations of all sizes to prioritize cybersecurity and invest in measures that protect their digital assets and the integrity of the online ecosystem.
In conclusion, the recent successful defense against the massive cyber attack by Google, Amazon, and Cloudflare highlights the growing threats and the need for continued efforts to enhance cybersecurity measures. This incident serves as a wake-up call for organizations to prioritize the security of their systems, update their web servers, and collaborate with industry experts to mitigate the risks posed by denial of service attacks. Only through collective action and proactive measures can we ensure the stability and security of the internet in the face of evolving threats.
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