The drop in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies’ prices could trigger a rise in the number of DDoS attacks, cybersecurity experts say, according to «Ъ».
To carry out DDoS attacks, hackers use networks of infected devices — botnets, also used for mining, according to Kaspersky DDoS Prevention. When prices rise, attackers typically divert power to mining rather than conducting DDoS attacks, the specialists noted.
The report from Kaspersky Lab emphasised that during the January decline in Bitcoin’s price there was a surge in DDoS activity.
Qrator Labs also noted a link between falling crypto prices and the number of DDoS attacks. The company said that another reason could be attackers trying to profit from price differentials — for example, by slowing down transactions through attacks.
Experts noted that, overall, there is a substantial rise in attack intensity. This is partly linked to the growing popularity of dedicated DDoS services and the falling costs of mounting attacks.
According to Kaspersky Lab, in Q4 2020 the total number of DDoS attacks fell by about 30% compared with Q3. This was linked to rising prices of many cryptocurrencies.
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