consequences - for example, disruption of work in the boiler room, which in frosty winters can be critical."
In essence, attacks on the resources of energy supply companies and regional Internet providers are links in the same chain, Shcherbakov admits. In their Telegram channel IT ARMY of Ukraine, the attackers directly write that direct attacks on infrastructure are prohibited by the Red Cross, he says: "An attack on an cayman islands whatsapp number database Internet provider, which may stop the flow of heat to the house, does not fall under this ban, but solves the same problem. The inability of an energy-saving company to accept payments due to an attack and the threat of turning off the lights also do not fall under the understanding of an attack on infrastructure." Moreover, an analysis of the targets of the attackers' upcoming planned attacks shows that both regional Internet providers and energy supply companies are still in the attackers' sphere of interest, Daniil Shcherbakov summarizes.
Smart devices are increasingly becoming part of an attack botnet rather than its targets, says Dmitry Nikonov, head of web application protection at DDoS-Guard. "It is important to change factory passwords and make appropriate settings to minimize risks," he continues. "So that you don't get surprised later that some sensor consumes so much traffic as if a football match were being broadcast through it 24/7."
The number, power and duration of DDoS attacks are growing worldwide every year, and 2023 is no exception. In Russia, which accounts for 7.3% of the total number of attacks (seventh place in the world), the total number of such incidents has grown by 29%, according to Stormwall. Along with the growth in the number and intensity of DDoS attacks, the Russian market for protection services against them is also growing. Thus, according to estimates by MTS Red (a subsidiary of MTS in the field of cybersecurity), in 2022 it amounted to 762 million rubles, by 2025 it can grow 3.5 times - to 2.7 billion rubles. In 2023, the market will increase by about 60%. Among the main factors of such dynamics, the company primarily points to the prevalence and growth in the number of DDoS attacks, as well as their wide distribution in information channels and the ease of calculating the damage from them.
However, according to Dmitry Nikonov from DDoS-Guard, the problem should not be dramatized. "It is clear that with the introduction of smart devices into elements of critical infrastructure, the temptation for hackers to use them for their own purposes and test the strength of systems increases. In Russia, the use of smart sensors and similar devices is only just developing, so it is too early to talk about serious threats in this regard," he believes, recalling how in 2023 Rosvodokanal became a victim of a DDoS attack, which, according to representatives of the organization, did not affect work processes in any way. "DDoS protection is already a basic thing that should be in the arsenal of every telecom provider," he reflects. "But the statements of the IT army of Ukraine that they are capable of organizing a communal collapse in Russia with the help of DDoS attacks sound unconvincing. It looks more like an attempt to create an impression, to cause tension and fear among residents."
In any case, companies providing DDoS protection services have already gained a number of new customers in the energy distribution sector. For example, Servicepipe told Forbes that several new customers in this sector have already contacted them for support.