A new large DDoS attack is knocking out internet access in Liberia.
The attack, written about on Thursday by IT security researcher Kevin Beaumont, is the same type of attack that slowed much of the internet down in October.
SEE ALSO:How an attack on a company you've never heard of crushed the internetBoth attacks used readily available Mirai malware. The malware allows users to hack into poorly-secured internet of things devices (such as smart cameras or refrigerators). From there, the hacker is able to direct data from those devices to one source, clogging its servers and often rendering it inaccessible to everyday users.
Hackers chose Dyn because they knew Dyn provides domain name services to major sites such as Twitter and Spotify. DNS directs common users to websites when they type in a url, so if Dyn went down, a large chunk of the internet went with it.
The thinking behind this newest attack appears to be similar. The attack centers on companies that run Liberia's single submarine internet cable, which was installed in 2011. Without the cable, Liberia's already very limited access to the internet can be wiped out.
The attacks -- like the attack on Dyn -- have come in waves, and Beaumont wrote that it seems like the person or group of people directing this attack are testing their capabilities.
"The attacks are extremely worrying because they suggest a Mirai operator who has enough capacity to seriously impact systems in a nation state," Beaumont wrote.
Security experts have said DDoS attacks are likely to ramp up in strength as more devices with poor security are put into the marketplace. Items such as climate control devices for your home or smart lightbulbs can be hacked over and over again with code available to anyone, allowing hackers to run free with whatever attacks they have the time and skill to direct.
With this most recent assault, Mirai users have proven they can do much more than frustrate people trying to access Twitter.
TopicsCybersecurity
(责任编辑：休閑)
One of the most controversial power struggles in media comes to a close
Donald Trump has jumped on the 'shadow ban' Twitter conspiracy theoryThis is the Samsung Galaxy Note 9Donald Trump gets trolled after he basically admits he's never been to a grocery store
Hiddleswift finally followed each other on Instagram after 3 excruciating daysSINGAPORE -- Getting stuff done at the bank often involves having to waste part of your day standing
...[详细]Report: Huawei plans to beat Samsung to foldable phone in 2019
Next year is shaping up to be the year of the foldable phone.
。Huawei, the world's third-largest smar
...[详细]Diane Keaton's Instagram account is a national treasure
Diane Keaton brings iconic style to every aspect of her life, whether it be acting, writing, or fash
...[详细]'First Man' review: Damien Chazelle's moon landing movie soars
First Man 。is a big film about the small things that went into an enormous event. 。 It's no spoiler th
...[详细]
With the Pokémon Go fever still shaking half the world, there's bound to be plenty of trainer
...[详细]Colin Kaepernick's Nike ad is naturally a meme now — and even Don Jr. is getting in on it
On Monday, Nike unveiled athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick as one of the faces of its new campai
...[详细]Now that Apple's big event is behind us, we can focus on the absolute onslaught of Android phones th
...[详细]Here is an ailing dummy that looks suspiciously like Mark Zuckerberg
The always disturbing subreddit r/zuckmemes has supplied another image to populate our nightmares.
。
...[详细]WhatsApp announces plans to share user data with Facebook
Big changes are coming to WhatsApp.
。On Thursday, WhatsApp announced in a blog post it will begin sha
...[详细]Academy postpones adding a 'popular' movie category
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences seems to know just how unpopular its proposal last m
...[详细]Tesla's rumored P100D could make Ludicrous mode even more Ludicrous
'Game of Thrones' star says final season will be 'heartbreaking'