The Evolution of DDoS Attacks: Why Hackers are Fighting for Control

The War for Botnets

Cybersecurity experts are noticing a strange new trend: criminal groups are now fighting each other to gain control over vulnerable devices. According to Martin Mackay, a senior security expert at Akamai Technologies, hackers are constantly trying to "hijack" the same infected computers (botnets) from their rivals.

When one group takes over another's resources, it often leads to a temporary decrease in the size of massive cyber attacks.

By the Numbers: Is the Threat Decreasing?

Recent reports show that while the frequency of attacks is high, their average size has actually dropped:

• 2015: The average Denial of Service (DoS) attack was around 4 Gbps.

• 2026 (Current Trends): Attacks have become more targeted, often falling to around 500 Mbps.

• Large Scale Attacks: In early 2016, there were 19 attacks exceeding 100 Gbps. This year, only two attacks reached that level.

Why the drop? This is largely due to international law enforcement agencies like Interpol and the US government successfully arresting the masterminds behind these massive botnet networks.

The Looming Threat of "Terabit" Attacks

Despite the recent dip, experts warn that this is just a cyclical phase. As hackers develop new methods and exploit more IoT (Internet of Things) devices, we could soon see massive attacks ranging between 5 and 10 Terabits per second.

For a company with a standard 1 to 10 Gbps connection, even a "small" attack can completely shut down their business.

DDoS vs. Ransomware: What’s the Difference?

Many people wonder if more DDoS competition means fewer Ransomware attacks like the recent global outbreaks. Unfortunately, the answer is no.

• DDoS is about crashing a system by overwhelming it with traffic.

• Ransomware is about locking your data and demanding money.

They use different resources and different strategies, meaning businesses must protect themselves against both simultaneously.