Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks have moved beyond traditional cybercrime into the realm of geopolitical strategy, reports TechRepublic. A recent report by NETSCOUT shows how these attacks are now being used to interfere with national security, democratic processes, and public services. Rather than targeting data, attackers are going after system availability, aiming to destabilize countries during politically sensitive moments such as elections, protests, and controversial policy rollouts.
The NETSCOUT Second Half 2024 DDoS Threat Intelligence Report highlights a sharp increase in attacks—nearly nine million in the latter half of the year alone. This marks a 12.7% rise from the first half, with regions like Latin America and Asia Pacific seeing some of the highest spikes. Countries experiencing political or civil unrest were especially vulnerable, with DDoS incidents rising by as much as 2,800% in hotspots like Israel, Georgia, and Mexico during critical national events.
A combination of AI and botnets is making these attacks more sophisticated and damaging. Many DDoS-for-hire platforms now use AI to bypass common defenses like CAPTCHA, increasing both the scale and success rate of attacks. Meanwhile, botnets composed of compromised devices are being used to flood networks, making it harder for authorities to dismantle attacker infrastructure despite international operations like PowerOFF.
The real risk lies in how DDoS attacks impact everyday life like access to healthcare, banking, transportation, and emergency services. NETSCOUT advises that businesses running essential systems need to move beyond standard cybersecurity tools and invest in proactive monitoring and response strategies to stay resilient in the face of this evolving threat landscape.
