Cybersecurity
Gafgyt and beyond: Inside IoT DDoS Malware
In a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack, a cyber attacker overwhelms their target by bombarding them with enormous quantities of fake data, knocking them offline

In a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack, a cyber attacker overwhelms their target by bombarding them with enormous quantities of fake data, knocking them offline or significantly impeding their ability to offer service regular to legitimate customers.
Because it’s challenging to overwhelm a target on your own, DDoS attacks almost always use a botnet, a zombie army of remote-controlled connected devices, which can launch coordinated attacks to consume a victim’s upstream bandwidth.
Picture it like recruiting a group of friends, acquaintances, and anyone else you can persuade with access to a phone to call a local business at a particular time repeatedly. While you could annoy by doing this yourself, using a single phone line, by getting a large group of people to do so, you can tie up as many phone lines as the target company might have open at once. You also make it much harder for the beleaguered business to trace the party responsible since all the calls come from different numbers.
A botnet works a lot like this. It refers to a collection of internet-connected devices that have been infected using malware to be controlled by hackers. The name “botnet” is a combination of “robot” and “network.” The biggest botnets have involved hundreds of thousands or even millions of connected devices. Those targets without the proper DDoS mitigation tools can be in serious trouble.
1. Attacking IoT devices
Virtually any internet-connected device can be used as a botnet. All that’s required is that it can send messages on command. That means that while malware-infected desktop and laptop computers have been used in botnet-driven DDoS attacks, they too have smartwatches, intelligent security cameras, intelligent kitchen appliances, and home routers.
Some of the devices are ones their owners may not even think of as computers, although that’s precisely what they are. They may also have no awareness that their device is part of a botnet, perhaps only experiencing the occasional slowdown in service — since many devices in a botnet lie dormant until they’re used for a DDoS attack or, sometimes, for sending spam messages.
There are many significant advantages to cyber attackers targeting Internet of Things (IoT) devices such as IP cameras and intelligent refrigerators for DDoS attacks. One is the massive number of devices that can potentially target. According to consumer data company Statista, the average number of connected devices per household in the United States last year was 10. Globally, the firm claims that there are around 21.5 billion interconnected devices.
Just as important is the fact that, in many cases, IoT security can be surprisingly poor. That makes these devices comparably easy to compromise for IoT botnets. Poor security may stem from weak and guessable passwords, often unchanged from their default passwords, insecure ecosystem interfaces, flawed security update methodologies, and more.
2. Botnets in action
Whatever the reasons, hackers have wasted no time targeting these vulnerabilities to build bigger, worse botnets. The devastating Mirai botnet, which emerged in 2016, infected IoT devices by scanning the internet for open ports and then trying to access them by using a list of more than 60 default passwords. It was used as part of multiple DDoS attacks.
Mirai’s tricks continue to be used in similar botnets. More recently, variations of a botnet malware family called Gafgyt have used code from the Mirai botnet to target and potentially infect susceptible IoT devices, including routers made by Huawei and Realtek. It downloads malware payloads that can be used to stage DDoS attacks by exploiting vulnerabilities in these devices.
DDoS attacks have been around for decades, but the approaches used by attackers continue to evolve. As seen with the Gafgyt malware and the continued threat of Mirai and Mirai-inspired botnets, attackers constantly tweak their systems to build larger, more dangerous botnets which can be used to inflict harm on targets.
3. Defending against DDoS
Anyone in possession of an IoT device should take steps to ensure that it is adequately secured. This involves changing the name and default password of machines, using strong passwords, providing firmware updates that are downloaded and installed, and avoiding using public Wi-Fi to access IoT networks.
To defend against DDoS attacks, you should also make sure that you deploy the correct anti-DDoS tools. This includes solutions for DDoS detection (able to recognize attacks as rapidly as possible), diversion (to defend against application-layer and network-layer attacks), filtering (blocking malicious traffic while continuing to let legitimate users through), and analysis (to gather information about attacks and attempted attacks.)
Distributed Denial of Service attacks (DDoS attacks) is not going away any time soon. The most that companies can hope for is preparing for them and figuring out how best to mitigate them. Given the potential damage they can cause — from unwanted downtime to long-term reputational damage — this is one of the smartest investments you can make.
Bitcoin
What are Types of Cryptocurrencies: a Complete Guide
What are Types of Cryptocurrencies: a Complete Guide, First cryptocurrency, Coins and tokens, Altcoins, Stablecoins, Governance tokens

Different types of cryptocurrency differ in certain features, areas of application, and efficiency. When choosing the right option for digital assets for investments, it is essential to consider many subtleties since the possibilities of investments and earnings on investments directly depend on this.
The first cryptocurrency was Bitcoin, but in recent years, many new types of digital assets that differ in their features have appeared. For example, you can easily buy WBT and other investments on favorable terms. A comprehensive market assessment will give an idea of the basic concepts and features of the work of decentralized technologies by the established standard norms and requirements for each user.
1. First cryptocurrency
All types of cryptocurrency work on a similar principle but differ significantly. Bitcoin was first launched in 2009. Since then, it has been the most sought-after and profitable cryptocurrency. This is a general-purpose crypto that can be used to pay for various services and goods and used for a wide range of tasks.
Bitcoin can almost wholly replace fiat money due to its simplicity, accessibility, and understandability for most people. In addition to Bitcoin, there are other types of cryptocurrencies: tokens, coins, altcoins, and stablecoins.
2. Coins and tokens
Coins and tokens have a similar value but differ in technical implementation. Among the distinguishing characteristics, attention should be paid to the following:
- Coins are a native medium of exchange used with specific cryptocurrencies developed using Blockchain technology.
- Tokens are coins already created based on their technology, so they have a different underlying implementation technology.
Despite the difference in implementation, these types of cryptocurrencies have similar properties and use cases, so they are actively used to perform various payment transactions.
3. Altcoins
In addition to Bitcoin, there are other types of cryptocurrencies called altcoins. Ethereum is one of the most popular altcoins. It was launched in 2015 but had high popularity and fame on par with the first cryptocurrency.
Among the critical characteristics of Ethereum are the following:
- high flexibility and security of digital assets of different types;
- interaction with various technologies;
- a system of smart contracts, which are characterized by a high level of manageability and security;
- development of applications of various levels using Blockchain technology;
- openness and anonymity of data placement in the system.
Currently, based on Ethereum, many projects, applications, and smart contracts have been developed, which are built based on Blockchain technology. Ethereum also has a cryptocurrency that can be used as a payment instrument.
When wondering what types of cryptocurrency are there, you should pay attention to other altcoins. For example, Solana, Polkadot, and many others are among the most popular projects capable of performing complex transactions.
4. Stablecoins
Many cryptocurrencies are unstable. Their value constantly changes, making them a complex investment tool, bringing significant risks when investing. Stablecoins were created to tie cryptocurrencies to real money to acquire a specific value. By linking to real fiat money, the value of stablecoins is much easier to predict.
As a rule, the value of a coin can change within a few percent, which is not so critical for investors, providing a stable profit. The cryptocurrency market is actively developing, so stablecoins are constantly increasing. At the same time, this digital asset has all the advantages of decentralized technologies and real money.
5. Different types of tokens
Different types of cryptocurrencies are created to finance various operations in specific programs. Therefore, they are referred to as utility tokens. There are such types of similar tokens:
- Governance tokens. Such tokens can be used to manage the company. For example, a particular DeFi project may issue a certain number of such governance tokens, which will help purchase shares of this company in the future. Participants with more similar coins have higher voting power in decision-making.
- Non-fungible tokens. Such tokens are unique and one of a kind. Therefore, regardless of their features and origin, they allow you to get the maximum profit. The NFT market is actively developing and offers many original digital objects that are real works of art.
By understanding how many types of cryptocurrency there are, you can choose the best option for investment. There are a variety of investment options in the crypto market. It is crucial to regularly study all the latest news to understand the peculiarities of the development of the cryptocurrency market.
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