The Botnet Malware Behind Some of the Biggest DDoS Attacks Ever Just Got an Upgrade

[InfoSec News <alerts () infosecnews org>]

https://gizmodo.com/the-botnet-malware-behind-some-of-the-biggest-ddos-atta-1833388261

By Dell Cameron
Gizmodo
March 18, 2019

Mirai malware, which can infect and grant even unsophisticated actors control 
over hundreds of thousands of IoT devices, is responsible for some of the most 
devastating distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks ever seen.

Just a few years ago, millions of people on the U.S. East Coast were basically 
left without internet access after a successful attack on Dyn’s DNS services. 
To illustrate how stupid-powerful the malware is, a lone script-kiddie whose 
only aim appeared to be crashing Minecraft servers was eventually blamed for 
the blackout.

The internet really hadn't seen anything like it. One attack was recorded at 
1.1 terabits per second—roughly 50 times more powerful than what "major" DDoS 
attacks were dishing out at the time. Three 20-somethings, all of whom were 
barely old enough to drink, pleaded guilty last year to developing Mirai and 
other botnets. After becoming narcs, each is only serving five-years probation.

On Monday, Unit 42, the global threat intelligence team at Palo Alto Networks, 
disclosed new research into a Mirai variant that’s picked up some new tricks. 
This variant includes 11 new exploits (bringing the total to 27) and targets, 
among other new devices, the LG Supersign TV and WePresent WiPG-1000 Wireless 
Presentation systems.

[...]

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