Even toothbrushes fall victim to DDoS attacks

An incredible scenario has come true: according to the Aargauer Zeitung, remotely controlled electric toothbrushes participated in a DDoS attack, aiming to break into and bring down the website of a company in Switzerland.

See also: Cloudflare: Site problems due to DDoS attack

Some smart toothbrushes use connectivity to track and improve users' hygiene habits. For example, apps can track how well users are placing the toothbrush on their teeth.

Cybercriminals exploited vulnerabilities in the Java to secretly infect smart toothbrushes. A command was then used to direct their requests to a targeted server. “Every device that is connected to the internet is a potential target or can be misused for an attack,” Züger warned.

However, while the story was widely circulated online, some experts express the view that the involvement of toothbrushes in DDoS attacks may be a fictional example.

Cybersecurity expert Kevin Beaumont shared on Mastodon that the story of the three million toothbrush botnet is not true. It is simply a fictional example that does not exist.

See also: UK: Royal family website offline due to DDoS attack

However, future technological advances may make such scenarios possible. Cybernews has already reported that cybersecurity professionals are avoiding smart devices for good reason – they are easy to hack due to questionable security practices and lack of support.

According to a report by the Aargauer Zeitung, Züger and his team recently presented an experiment to determine how long it takes for an internet-connected computer to become infected “without any protection.” Apparently, the system was compromised after just 20 minutes.

Last year, there were almost 50 thousand cyberattack incidents reported to the Swiss Federal Office for Cybersecurity (BACS), a 43% over the previous year.

See also: OracleIV DDoS Botnet Malware Targets Docker Engine API Instances

What are the available methods for preventing DDoS attacks?

DDoS attacks can be prevented through various methods. The first and most basic is to implement a strong network security system that can detect and repel DDoS attacks.

Additionally, using a DDoS mitigation system can help prevent DDoS attacks. These systems work by detecting increases in network traffic and isolating suspicious traffic.

Using an Intrusion Detection and Prevention System (IDPS) is also an effective method for preventing DDoS attacks. IDPS can detect threats in real-time and block attacks before they cause damage.

Finally, training staff on network security issues and implementing good practices, such as changing passwords and updating software, can help prevent DDoS attacks.

Source: cybernews