Akamai Technologies’ new Security Intelligence Response Team has identified a botnet that is capable of a DDoS attacks of 150 Gigabytes-per-second (Gbps) or more .
The content delivery network services firm detailed an attack carried out using a Trojan malware called XOR DDoS. This hijacks Linux systems, and then launches on-demand DDoS attack by a remote attacker. Linux DDoS attacks, as opposed to those against Windows machines, are increasing.
Over the past year, the XOR DDoS botnet has grown and is now capable of being used to launch huge DDoS attacks,” said Stuart Scholly, senior vice president and general manager, Security Business Unit, Akamai.
In May, research from Kaspersky labs showed that overall botnet attacks had dropped by 11% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2015. This botnet attack shows that they are not decreasing in power though.
Up to 20 targets come under attack from the botnet a day, in attacks that vary in size from single digit Gbps, to large scale attacks. One of the attacks monitored by Akamai over the 22-23rd August was 179 Gbps, another was 109 Gbps. 90% of the businesses attacked were in Asia.
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