On December 11, 2023, Newsquest suffered an attack that affected several local news websites.. Newsquest is the second-largest media group in the UK. The attack started on Monday and continued until Thursday. Because of this incident, journalists using the sites under the Newsquest group couldn’t upload or share their news for several days.
For many users, access to these websites wasn’t possible during the attack.
The fact is DDoS attacks are all too common. And not all of them are publicly disclosed. Only in the first half of 2023, there were 7.9 million of these attacks in the world.
They’re also inexpensive to order on the dark web.
This case is one of many DDoS attack incidents that happened this year.
DDoS attacks target more than just websites. They can take down entire networks.
What Is a DDoS Attack?
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) is a cyber attack that floods a network or a website with traffic. As a result, the service either goes offline or is painfully slow because it gets more requests than it can handle.
It relies on botnets (devices controlled by a hacker) whose power is used to send large volumes of traffic to the victim’s server. These could include hijacked PCs, IoT devices, or mobile phones all over the world.
Today, DDoS attacks are even available as a service. Criminals can pay hackers to “DDoS” someone or purchase their own botnet on the dark web (if they’re more skilled).
Let’s dive into how the attack looks from the victim’s perspective.
#1 Unexpected Traffic Spikes
Do customers find your website is loading longer than other sites they visit? Or maybe they’re unable to reach it at all? Unexpected flood of traffic is the first sign of a DDoS attack.
Because of a high number of requests that your servers can’t process, a surge of traffic causes the site to either slow down or crash completely.
Traffic patterns also matter. Consider this:
- Is it coming from multiple IP addresses?
- Are the visitors coming at the same time every day?
- Are visitors coming from countries that don’t usually visit your site?
- Is the traffic focused on one specific port or site?
You can check these patterns in your site’s Google Analytics.
#2 Multiple 500 Errors
HTTP 500 errors tell you that something is not right at the server end. It might be overwhelmed and can’t handle the requests.
There are many server errors in this category. Some can point to other issues than security (e.g. misconfigurations or programming errors). However, a sudden surge of them can suggest a possible cyber incident.
Pay attention to the codes 500 and 503 if you suspect a DDoS attack.
For example, the 503 error you get could indicate that the server is overwhelmed with traffic due to a DDoS exploit.
A 500 code is a generic message that tells you something is wrong with the server. There is an unknown reason why it can’t handle requests.
#3 Multiple Login Attempts
One tactic to overwhelm the server of a website is to try to log into the website multiple times.
As the hacker uses a brute force attack to guess user credentials, you get a notification that there have been multiple failed login attempts.
Many use this tactic to distract the website owner and simultaneously target other vulnerable parts of the website with a DDoS.
#4 Warning Alerts
If you’re a company, you have security tools to protect you from common cyber attacks such as DDoS and different types of malware.
In case the number of requests is unusually high, your automated security tools might not be able to block all the malicious traffic.
They will send out alerts for your security team to deal with the issues automated tools can’t handle themselves.
There are also security tools specialized in the discovery and mitigation of DDoS incidents.
#5 Attackers Confirm That You’re Under DDoS
Some DDoS attacks are built to slow down a website and cause customers to leave their shopping cards due to frustration. Others are in it for a quick buck.
The motivation behind the attack makes all the difference.
In the first case, DDoS attacks might be happening for months without you realizing. This is common with competitors.
In the second, you’ll know about the attack right away because the hacker wants to cash in as soon as possible and move on to another target. It’s not personal.
DDoS attacks are often combined with other cyber attacks — such as ransomware. Threat actors might use DDoS to put additional pressure on the company to pay the ransom.
In other cases, bad actors might use DDoS to conceal the attempts of a data breach. Even news sites have a lot of people who sign up to access the articles and, with it, collect a large amount of user data.
A DDoS Attack Is A Difficult One To Weed Out
A DDoS attack is a cyber threat that has been looming over businesses for decades.
They are common and on the rise because it’s inexpensive to buy botnets on the dark web. Also, they’re available as a service, so even people with no technical skills can order DDoS exploits.
DDoS attacks are difficult to eradicate completely because they're continually evolving, continuously coming back with the possibility of sending a larger number of requests.
Many businesses still lack adequate security solutions that can help them identify and mitigate DDoS incidents before the hacker crashes their online services.
What can you do to prepare for a possible DDoS attack?
Have a layered stack of security tools. Then, manage and strengthen your cybersecurity posture and be ready for future attacks — even if you’ve already been the victim of this type of cyber attack.
Online Threat Alerts Security Tips
Pay the safest way
Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.
Guard your personal information
In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.
Be careful of the information you share
Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with
Know who you’re dealing with
Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.
Check your accounts
Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.
Don’t believe promises of easy money
If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.
Do not open email from people you don’t know
If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.
Think before you click
If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.
Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond
If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.
Be careful with links and new website addresses
Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.
Secure your personal information
Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.
Stay informed on the latest cyber threats
Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.
Use Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are critical to online security.
Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs
Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.
Update the operating systems on your electronic devices
Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.
What if You Got Scammed?
Stop Contact With The Scammer
Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.
Secure Your Finances
- Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
- Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
Check Your Computer
If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.
Change Your Account Passwords
Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.
Report The Scam
Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.
Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:
- Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
- Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
- Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.
How To Recognize a Phishing Scam
Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.
Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:
Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might
- say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
- claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
- say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
- include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
- want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
- say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
- offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real
About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)
Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.
By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.
With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.
Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.
Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).