Source: https://cobaltstrike.net/2022/03/11/hackers-adapt-ddos-attacks-for-extortion-purposes/
Cybercriminals are getting smarter and more dangerous. While the world has just come to terms with the methods of double and triple extortion, attackers have armed themselves with new threat vectors. According to a report by experts from Radware, in 2021, the number of distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks increased by 37%. Unfortunately, some DDoS attacks are combined with ransomware attacks to achieve maximum effect.
Cybercriminals are changing their attack patterns. Now several threat vectors are combined in new cyberattacks to launch complex malicious campaigns. The operators of ransomware programs and their partners, which now include hired performers of DDoS attacks, work with a completely new level of professionalism and discipline.
Ransomware DDoS attacks (RDDoS) are more often an integral part of multi-vector attacks targeting VoIP providers and jeopardize the security of critical infrastructure around the world.
Last year, the EMEA region (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) and the United States accounted for 40% of the volume of DDoS attacks, and the Asia-Pacific region accounted for 20%.
The industries that suffer the most from DDoS attacks are games and retail (they account for 22% of the total number of attacks). They are followed by government organizations (13%), healthcare (12%), technology (9%) and finance (6%).