DDoS attacks have emerged as a prevalent geopolitical weapon, overshadowing many traditional cyber threats, according to the network security firm Netscout. In the second half of 2024, global DDoS activity rose by 12.7%, nearing 9 million attacks. This growth, particularly notable in Latin America and Asia Pacific, reflects a shift in the utilization of these attacks to exploit national vulnerabilities and undermine trust in institutions. Netscout reported a total of 16.8 million DDoS attacks for 2024, marking a significant increase from previous years. Automation and advancements in AI have made these attacks more efficient, with tools bypassing defenses like CAPTCHA. The report emphasizes that DDoS attacks are evolving from mere bandwidth disruption to precise, adaptive digital weapons, capable of causing significant infrastructural disruption during critical sociopolitical moments. The rise of DDoS-for-hire services is lowering the entry barriers for attackers, complicating the cyber threat landscape. DDoS attacks have also been tied to high-profile incidents, such as disruptions of Elon Musk's social media platform.

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