DDoS Attacks Decline in Q4 of 2020
Recent data from Kaspersky reveals that Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks decreased by 31% in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to the previous quarter. This decline is attributed to the rise in cryptocurrency prices, leading cyber-criminals to shift their focus towards cryptomining activities. While the number of cryptominers had been decreasing throughout 2019 and early 2020, there was a slight increase from August 2020 onwards.
Shift Towards Cryptomining
As cryptomining becomes more profitable, many cyber-criminals have repurposed botnets to mine cryptocurrencies using infected devices’ computing power instead of launching DDoS attacks. Avira reported a 53% increase in crypto-mining software detections in the last quarter of 2020, coinciding with the surge in Bitcoin value.
Impact of COVID-19
Despite the decline in DDoS attacks in Q4 of 2020, the overall number of attacks was still 10% higher compared to the same period in 2019. This increase can be attributed to the surge in DDoS attacks throughout 2020, as cyber-criminals took advantage of the growing number of people spending time online due to COVID-19 restrictions. Educational institutions, such as schools in Massachusetts and Laurentian University in Canada, were among the targets in the final months of 2020.
Future Trends
Alexey Kiselev, from the Kaspersky DDoS Protection team, noted that the DDoS attack market is currently influenced by two opposing trends. While the reliance on stable online resources makes DDoS attacks a popular choice for cyber-criminals, the profitability of infecting devices with miners due to the spike in cryptocurrency prices may lead to a shift in tactics. The overall number of DDoS attacks in Q4 remained stable, and this trend is expected to continue into 2021.
As the cybersecurity landscape evolves, organizations need to stay vigilant and implement robust security measures to protect against both DDoS attacks and cryptomining threats.