The Aisuru Botnet: What You Need to Know About Record-Breaking 20 Tbps DDoS Attacks
A new and formidable threat has emerged in the cybersecurity landscape, capable of launching Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks on an unprecedented scale. Known as the Aisuru botnet, this malicious network is responsible for generating attack traffic peaking at an astonishing 20 Terabits per second (Tbps), setting a new record for DDoS attack volume and posing a significant threat to global internet infrastructure.
This level of attack power is enough to overwhelm even the most well-defended networks, including those of major telecommunication companies and Internet Service Providers (ISPs), which appear to be its primary targets. Here’s a breakdown of what the Aisuru botnet is, how it operates, and what you can do to protect your systems.
What is the Aisuru Botnet?
The Aisuru botnet is a network of thousands of compromised Internet of Things (IoT) devices that have been hijacked by malicious actors. The name “Aisuru” (愛する), which translates to “to love” in Japanese, stands in stark contrast to its destructive capabilities. Like other botnets, it harnesses the collective power of these infected devices—such as routers, security cameras, and other smart gadgets—to flood a target’s servers with an overwhelming amount of internet traffic.
When this traffic volume exceeds what a server or network can handle, the service becomes unavailable to legitimate users, resulting in a “denial of service.” What makes Aisuru particularly dangerous is its sheer size and efficiency, allowing it to generate traffic volumes that were once considered purely theoretical.
The Unprecedented Scale: Understanding a 20 Tbps Attack
To put the 20 Tbps figure into perspective, most large-scale DDoS attacks in recent years have been measured in the hundreds of Gigabits per second (Gbps) or, in rare cases, a few terabits. A 20 Tbps attack is an order of magnitude larger and represents a significant escalation in cyber warfare capabilities.
Key points about the Aisuru attacks include:
- Massive Volume: The attacks leverage a combination of amplification and reflection techniques, using common protocols like UDP to maximize the amount of traffic sent to the victim.
- Targeting Critical Infrastructure: By focusing on telecommunication providers and ISPs, the attackers aim to cause widespread disruption that can affect millions of businesses and individual users downstream.
- Difficult to Mitigate: Defending against an attack of this magnitude requires specialized, high-capacity DDoS mitigation services. Traditional on-premise security solutions are completely insufficient to handle such a flood of malicious data.
How Are Devices Infected by the Aisuru Botnet?
The primary method used by the Aisuru botnet to expand its network is frighteningly simple: it exploits weak and default credentials on IoT devices.
Many manufacturers ship devices with generic, easy-to-guess usernames and passwords like “admin/admin” or “user/password.” When users connect these devices to the internet without changing these credentials, they become low-hanging fruit for automated scanners. These scanners continuously scour the web for vulnerable devices, and once one is found, the malware infects it and enlists it into the botnet.
The rapid proliferation of insecure IoT devices has created a massive, vulnerable ecosystem that botnet operators are eagerly exploiting.
Actionable Security Tips to Protect Your Devices and Network
While large organizations rely on sophisticated mitigation platforms, the responsibility to secure the internet begins with every connected device. Preventing your devices from becoming part of a botnet like Aisuru is a critical step in cybersecurity.
Here are essential security measures you should implement:
Change All Default Credentials Immediately: This is the single most important step. If your router, camera, or any other smart device is still using its factory-set username and password, change it now to a strong, unique password.
Use Strong and Unique Passwords: Avoid common words and use a combination of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols. Use a different password for every device and service.
Keep Firmware and Software Updated: Manufacturers often release security patches to fix known vulnerabilities. Regularly check for and install firmware updates for all your connected devices.
Disable Unnecessary Services: Many IoT devices come with features like Telnet or Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) enabled by default. If you don’t need them, disable these services to reduce your device’s attack surface.
Implement Network Segmentation: For businesses and advanced users, isolating IoT devices on a separate network segment can prevent a compromised device from infecting other critical systems on your primary network.
Invest in DDoS Mitigation: For businesses, especially those reliant on continuous online availability, subscribing to a cloud-based DDoS mitigation service is no longer optional—it is a necessity for survival in today’s threat environment.
The emergence of the Aisuru botnet is a stark reminder that as our world becomes more connected, the potential for catastrophic cyberattacks grows. Proactive security and digital hygiene are our best defenses against becoming unwilling participants in these massive digital assaults.
Source: https://securityaffairs.com/183969/malware/aisuru-botnet-is-behind-record-20tb-sec-ddos-attacks.html
