Mobile devices are becoming launchpads for DDoS attacks

Downloadable mobile apps are being used in DDoS attacks against enterprises, according to the latest quarterly report from DDoS protection provider Prolexic Technologies. In Q4 of 2013, PLXsert discovered via digital forensics and attack signature analysis that mobile devices participated in a DDoS attack campaign against a client in the global financial services sector. Specifically, PLXsert detected the use of AnDOSid, an Android operating system tool that performs an HTTP POST flood attack.

An increasing number of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks against businesses are coming from mobile devices, according to Prolexic Technologies. The American-based DDoS protection firm released data from its fourth quarter 2013 report that suggests mobile applications have and will continue to play a more expansive role in such attacks. The report gathered data from attacks against Prolexic’s clients and showed that one international financial services firm fell victim to such an attack. Subsequent digital forensics and attack signature analysis by the company detected the use of AnDOSid, an Android app that can mount an HTTP POST flood attack.