• 111% increase in DDoS attacks compared to this time last year
• 548% increase in attacks on telecom & ISP industry
• Geo-political tensions have driven a significant increase in DDoS attacks, with  519% increase targeting Ukraine

 Imperva has unveiled its 2024 DDoS Threat Landscape Report, highlighting a dramatic increase in DDoS attacks across various industries.

Imperva mitigated 111% more DDoS attacks in H1 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, underscoring the escalating threat.

Industries with Highest Increase in DDoS Attacks

Comparing the first half of 2024 with the same period last year, there has been a significant increase in DDoS attacks across several industries. The Telecom and ISP industry experienced the highest year-over-year growth, with a 548% increase in Application Layer DDoS attacks. Healthcare saw a 236% increase, and the Gaming industry witnessed a rise in attacks of 208%.

The report also found that DDoS attacks targeting industries associated with sporting events have risen by 89%, demonstrating how high-profile events attract cybercriminals seeking publicity.

Geopolitical Influence on DDoS Activity

Political tensions also significantly impact the prevalence of DDoS attacks. State actors and political activists often use these attacks to make statements or signal intentions. Understanding the motivations and methods behind politically driven attacks is essential for developing effective defence strategies. Political tensions have driven significant increases in DDoS attacks, with notable surges in Ukraine (519%), Israel (118%), and China (84%)

DDoS attacks growing in scale

The research found that DDoS attacks have significantly escalated in scale. Notable incidents from the past six months include:

• February 2024: The most significant Layer 7 DDoS attack targeted an Indonesian gaming site with 4.7 million RPS from 1,700 IPs in Canada, India, and the United States.
• March 2024: Imperva mitigated an unusually large attack against an online retail site in Romania measuring 4M RPS, a 2000% increase on the previous record for an attack in that country.
• April 2024: A Chinese entertainment site was hit with 4.2 million RPS from 2,600 IPs in China and the United States, lasting nearly five hours.