Zombie Ddos

[Kerrie Gingrich]

Incomputing, a zombie is a computer connected to the Internet that has been compromised by a hacker via a computer virus, computer worm, or trojan horse program and can be used to perform malicious tasks under the remote direction of the hacker. Zombie computers often coordinate together in a botnet controlled by the hacker, and are used for activities such as spreading e-mail spam and launching distributed denial-of-service attacks (DDoS attacks) against web servers. Most victims are unaware that their computers have become zombies. The concept is similar to the zombie of Haitian Voodoo folklore, which refers to a corpse resurrected by a sorcerer via magic and enslaved to the sorcerer's commands, having no free will of its own.[1] A coordinated DDoS attack by multiple botnet machines also resembles a "zombie horde attack", as depicted in fictional zombie films.

Zombies can be used to conduct distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, a term which refers to the orchestrated flooding of target websites by large numbers of computers at once. The large number of Internet users making simultaneous requests of a website's server is intended to result in crashing and the prevention of legitimate users from accessing the site.[4] A variant of this type of flooding is known as distributed degradation-of-service. Committed by "pulsing" zombies, distributed degradation-of-service is the moderated and periodical flooding of websites intended to slow down rather than crash a victim site. The effectiveness of this tactic springs from the fact that intense flooding can be quickly detected and remedied, but pulsing zombie attacks and the resulting slow-down in website access can go unnoticed for months and even years.[5]

The computing facilitated by the Internet of Things (IoT) has been productive for modern-day usage, yet it has played a significant role in the increase in web attacks. The potential of IoT enables every device to communicate efficiently, but this also intensifies the need for policy enforcement regarding security threats. Among these threats, Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks are prevalent. Research has been conducted to study the impact of such attacks on IoT networks and to develop compensating provisions for defense.[6] Consultation services specialized in IoT security, such as those offered by IoT consulting firms, play a vital role in devising comprehensive strategies to safeguard IoT ecosystems from cyber threats.

Notable incidents of distributed denial- and degradation-of-service attacks in the past include the attack upon the SPEWS service in 2003, and the one against Blue Frog service in 2006. In 2000, several prominent Web sites (Yahoo, eBay, etc.) were clogged to a standstill by a distributed denial of service attack mounted by 'MafiaBoy', a Canadian teenager.

Beginning in July 2009, similar botnet capabilities have also emerged for the growing smartphone market. Examples include the July 2009 in the "wild" release of the Sexy Space text message worm, the world's first botnet capable SMS worm, which targeted the Symbian operating system in Nokia smartphones. Later that month, researcher Charlie Miller revealed a proof of concept text message worm for the iPhone at Black Hat Briefings. Also in July, United Arab Emirates consumers were targeted by the Etisalat BlackBerry spyware program. In the 2010s, the security community is divided as to the real world potential of mobile botnets. But in an August 2009 interview with The New York Times, cyber security consultant Michael Gregg summarized the issue this way: "We are about at the point with [smart]phones that we were with desktops in the '80s."[7]

In the vast digital world, 'Zombies' might not be what you think they are. Instead of a creature from horror films, the term refers to an alarming phenomenon in cybersecurity. Understanding what a zombie is in cybersecurity and how to prevent zombie attack is essential for both personal and business users, as it directly impacts their digital security and integrity.

In the context of cybersecurity, a 'Zombie' is a computer that has been covertly infected with malicious software. This malware enables the attacker to remotely control the computer, turning it into a tool that carries out various malicious tasks, including denial of service attacks, mail spam, and distribution of further malware.

Such a computer, now a 'Zombie computer', isn't operating on its own. It's under the control of a malicious agent, commonly known as a 'botmaster' or 'bot herder,' who manipulates these infected computers without the users' knowledge. A group of such controlled devices, often used for carrying out larger-scale attacks, forms a 'botnet,' functioning as an army of zombie computers.

Any computer connected to the internet is vulnerable to becoming a zombie computer. Hackers often use sophisticated techniques to install malicious programs on your device, turning it into an obedient servant that carries out their commands.

The process typically starts with a virus or other malicious code, which might arrive in an innocuous-looking email attachment or be embedded in a download from a non-trusted source. This malicious program, often self-replicating, will infect the computer once it's opened, making alterations to the operating system that allow the hacker to control the device remotely.

The rise of zombie computers has dramatically reshaped the cybersecurity landscape. They serve as the backbone for various forms of cybercrime, from the degradation of service attacks to mail spam campaigns. By using your device to send spam or launch denial of service attacks, hackers can extort money, steal sensitive information, or cause significant disruption to online services.

A zombie attack in cybersecurity refers to the coordinated use of zombie computers to perform a malicious task. The most common form of such an attack is a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack, where a multitude of zombie devices simultaneously access a particular website or online service, overloading its capacity and causing it to fail.

In 2000, a Canadian teenager known by his internet alias 'Mafiaboy' launched one of the first and most infamous zombie attacks. Using a network of zombie computers, he brought down several high-profile websites, including CNN, Yahoo!, and Amazon, causing estimated damages of $1.2 billion.

The aftermath of an attack can be devastating. Besides causing considerable downtime for websites and online services, such attacks can also lead to significant financial loss, damaged reputations, and compromised personal and financial data. Zombie attacks may also result in legal ramifications for the owners of the infected computers, especially if they have been used for sending spam or other illegal activities.

A zombie botnet is a collection of zombie computers networked together and controlled by a botmaster. This swarm of compromised devices can be commanded to perform various tasks, ranging from sending spam to launching DDoS attacks. Botnets are often employed for denial of service attacks, a method hackers use to overload a website's server, rendering it inoperable and causing service disruption.

Each botnet's size can range from a few hundred to millions of devices. Larger botnets can cause severe disruption and are often harder to dismantle due to their decentralized nature. Hackers often create and control these botnets for similar reasons, including financial gain, ideological reasons, or even for the sheer thrill of causing chaos.

A zombie botnet is formed when multiple computers get infected with the same malicious software. The malware usually includes a component that allows the attacker to control the infected computers remotely, typically via a command and control server.

Once the botnet is established, the attacker can issue commands to the zombie computers, directing them to perform various activities. These activities often include sending spam emails, launching DDoS attacks, or even spreading malicious software to other computers, helping the botnet grow.

Creating and controlling a zombie botnet requires significant technical expertise. Hackers employ a variety of techniques to avoid detection, often ensuring that their malicious software is resistant to the most common anti-virus programs. They also frequently update their malware to adapt to new security measures and stay one step ahead of the cybersecurity experts working to take them down.

Identifying a zombie attack can be a daunting task. However, by monitoring network activity and being vigilant for specific signs, you can identify the onset of such an attack. Here's what to look out for:

Our Network Secure - Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) can be used in conjunction with Endpoint Security to identify malicious files at both the network level and endpoints. The advanced firewall is a security device designed to inspect network and application traffic for threats, secure the network environment from intrusion, and bring in security intelligence from outside the network. Anything that the on-premises features cannot analyze is automatically sent to the cloud-based Neural-X sandbox for isolation and critical inspection. Additionally, consider our Cyber Command (NDR) Platform, which constantly monitors for malware, residual security events, and future potential compromises in your network. The solution is coupled with Threat Intelligence and an enhanced AI algorithm to keep you updated on any vulnerabilities in the system while ensuring your data is always kept strictly protected and consistently monitored for lingering threats.

Sangfor Technologies is a leading vendor of Cyber Security and Cloud Computing solutions. The majority of the blogs that you are seeing here are written by professionals working at Sangfor. We have a team of content writers, product managers and marketing experts who are taking care of writing articles on various topics that are relevant to our audience. Our team ensures that the articles published are factually correct and helpful to our customers and partners to know more about the recent trends on Cyber Security and Cloud, and how it can help their organizations.

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