Internet of Things 'botnet DDos attacks' are growing alarmingly, threatening global telecommunications networks

Recently, as Nokia’s 2023 Threat Intelligence Report reveals, a surge in malicious activity was first observed during the Russia-Ukraine conflict and has now spread to various regions around the world.

In addition to the increase in botnet-driven DDoS attacks, the threat intelligence report also highlights that the number of Trojans targeting personal banking information on mobile devices has doubled and now accounts for 9% of all infections.

A recent report released by the Nokia Threat Intelligence Center shows an alarming increase in IoT botnet DDoS attacks targeting telecommunications networks around the world. The study shows that such attacks have increased fivefold in the past year, with cybercriminals taking advantage of insecure IoT devices and profit-driven hacking collectives.

This surge in malicious activity, first observed during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, has now spread to various regions around the world, compromising critical infrastructure and services beyond telecommunications networks.

The escalation of DDoS attacks is driven hugely by the proliferation of IoT devices among consumers. The number of compromised IoT devices used in these attacks has surged from 200,000 to approximately 1 million and now accounts for more than 40% of all DDoS traffic.

The report highlights that the increase in attacks stems from an increasing number of profit-driven hacking groups taking advantage of the Ukraine crisis.

A popular form of malware in telecom networks is bot malware, which scans for vulnerable devices – a tactic associated with multiple IoT botnets. With lax security measures prevalent in billions of IoT devices around the world, including everything from smart refrigerators to medical sensors and smartwatches, cybercriminals have found ample targets to exploit.

In addition to the increase in botnet-driven DDoS attacks, the threat intelligence report also highlights that the number of Trojans targeting personal banking information on mobile devices has doubled and now accounts for 9% of all infections. This puts millions of users around the world at higher risk of having their financial and credit card details compromised. Trojan horses are malicious software code disguised as legitimate applications.

The report shows that the trend of malware infections in home networks is showing a downward trend, looking at it from a positive perspective. After peaking at 3% during the Covid-19 pandemic, the infection rate has dropped to 1.5%, close to the pre-pandemic level of 1%. This decrease has been driven by a decrease in malware activity targeting remote workers as people return to office environments.

The findings in the report are based on data collected from more than 200 million devices worldwide that leverage Nokia's NetGuard Endpoint Security product to monitor network traffic.

Canada’s Threat Intelligence Center, France’s Nokia Cyber ​​Security Center, India’s Nokia Security Operations Center and Nokia Deepfield, which specializes in network analytics and DDoS security, contributed their expertise to compile this comprehensive report.

Speaking on the report’s findings, Nokia Senior Vice President of Business Applications Hamdy Farid emphasized the urgent need for robust security measures in 5G networks. Farid emphasized the importance of telecom-centric threat detection and response, as well as the importance of implementing rigorous security practices and awareness at all levels of the organization, including service providers, vendors and regulators.

The alarming surge in IoT botnet attacks is a wake-up call for the global telecommunications industry, requiring them to strengthen security measures and work closely to protect network integrity and ensure the safety of millions of users around the world.

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