Computers including laptops and desktops have become a necessity in our day to day performance including studies, personnel’s and for work. We often use computers for web browsing, social networking, sending and receiving mail etc. This has led to an increase in threats that makes computers vulnerable to attacks. One of the attacks is known as Botnet attacks.
What is a Botnet attack?
A botnet is a device’s network. Botnet attack happens when malware is injected into a network in order to launch the attack. These can be used to send confidential information, spam and DDos attacks. They use a botnet to make the machine available to users, while others use it as spam. Botnet works by injecting Trojan viruses making them be controlled by software or third party-(selling the access to the networks) using it as a zombie for their needs. A botnet user uses different viruses to run through a computer virus or worm. They are powerful because attackers control thousands of remote computers to carry out illegal activities on the Internet.
Types of Botnet attacks
1. DDOS(Distributed Denial of service attack)
In general, most people are confused by DoS and DDoS attacks. They are different. For one reason DoS uses a single system and internet connections, while there are many different systems and internet connections to implement the DDoS. DDoS attacks are delivered through bottlenecks. DDoS are bound to traffic, scope and application attacks. A large number of packets are sent to the device.
A computer infected with malware is more likely to be a part of the DDoS attack. It is known as service deprivation. At the same time, it can also perform other activities such as malicious actions that make the network accessible to users. The main objective for Distributed denial of attacks is sending an attack to the target to obtain information that is valuable to the attacker. This can be access to confidential information.
How to Prevent DDoS attacks
These methods protect your system from these DDoS attacks is known as DDoS mitigation
Some of the methods for preventing DDos are:
· Communication limitation
This is done by making servers limited to receive a certain number of performances and if they exceed, the new connections are put on hold. This allows the server to prevent overcrowding. With this DDoS attacks are minimized.
· Preventing dark IP addresses
This is done by blocking the unknown IP addresses. IP Addresses that are not assigned by IANA (Internet Assigned Number Authority) are known as dark IP addresses.
· SYN proxy
This is done when computers replicate the real IP address in order to find a path to attack by using a SYN packet. When these packets are sent to the server it stores them and since they are not genuine the server slows down.
2. Crypto-jacking
Crypto-jacking is like using someone else’s phone, iPad, or laptop in order to mine crypto currency. Hackers can easily access your electronic devices in order to take advantage of them. They can do this by sending you a link via email etc. It is very difficult to determine if your phone is being used by the attacker.
One of the main reasons why attackers use crypto-jacking is that crypto-jacking is difficult to detect. Crypto-jacking is a low risk but high risk investment. We all know that Bitcoin mining is not an easy task. A computer can dig one bitcoin for 10 years. Internet hackers just have to make you believe advertisements and force you to sign up. The code they write is automatic and that’s it. It only allows their computer to do the job. They don’t have to sit under computer data every day.
Crypto-jacking is the latest hacking trend because it is easy to set up, maintain, and restore to a high standard. Is there any way to prevent something from happening to us? You can set up an ad blocker to prevent all ads from appearing on your computer in order to prevent unwanted ads. Next, you need to click on genuine links in the email. You can set cookies on the link and when you click on your computer you will look for them.
3. Phishing Attacks
Phishing is a technique that aims to steal sensitive information, such as passwords, based on the belief that the information is being given to someone trusted. While email is still the main form of attack for this type of attack, social media is also opening up new types of these attacks.
Here are some tips to help you avoid phishing attacks, whether as a business or as an individual
1. Learn about phishing
Phishing messages tend to act out constantly. They are usually designed to match the standard email that a legitimate person or organization might send you. If you click on a link in an email like this, you may be directed to a fake website, which is the same as the real company website.
2. Never click a link to an email claiming to be from your bank
You do not need to click on the link in the email to visit your bank’s website. This link may lead you to a fraudulent website. Therefore, always enter the bank’s web URL directly into your web browser.
3.Teach fraud to your employees
Even if one of your employees is not familiar with common phishing scams, your business could be at risk. So at least educate them on the basics of security awareness. What for example? Did you know that no trusted site sends you emails to use your password? Do you check every URL before clicking it?
Preventing botnet attacks
- Make sure your systems are up to date. -Updating the systems makes sure new updates are installed as soon as they are available. This should also include hardware devices
- Practicing cyber security -Following the cyber security hygiene keeps attacks at bay. This can be done by strong passwords in the companies emails addresses etc.
- Analyzing the traffic- using analytics solutions makes it easier to detect botnets ahead.