California-based cybersecurity firm Imperva finds in new research that the volume of DDoS in video games and others have grown by 100% in the first half of 2021. The median duration for these DDoS attacks last about 6.1 minutes. Players end up getting ping spikes, lag, disconnects, and could even lead to a higher incidence of cheating in video games.
“The tools and attack methods available to trolls and toxic players have become more sophisticated, easier to find and cheaper to buy,” reads a press release from Imperva. “In fact, Imperva Research Labs finds that for just $5 an hour, someone can rent the tools to execute a DDoS attack capable of crippling network resources. In some cases, the motivation behind these attacks is cheating. In other cases, bad actors gather information from individual gamers via chats and message boards, or infect their devices with malware.”
This means that hackers and cheaters have gained access to cheaper options to DDoS attacks, making games and gamers much more vulnerable. Just some of the companies affected by such actions include Respawn Entertainment, Activision, and Ubisoft. DDoS in video games have high financial implications, with an organization experiencing up to $300,000 in losses for just one hour of downtime.
Thankfully, gamers can protect themselves from these attacks. To reduce the risk of being targeted, Imperva suggest the following habits:
- Reset your IP address regularly.
- Don't click on external links sent to you in game chat.
- Use a VPN.
- Upgrade your home network.
- Update your security software.
While gamers are becoming savvier in navigating the internet safely today, trolls and toxic players are also getting more resourceful. It never hurts to be extra careful, as being lenient could lead to loss of information and identity theft.
