Significant Rise in DDoS Attacks Targeting Education and Telecom Sectors

Cybercriminals have dramatically increased the pace of DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks targeting telecommunications companies, educational institutions, and government organizations. This information comes from a report prepared by experts at Rostelecom-Solar.

In 2019 and early 2020, researchers collected data on attacks against Rostelecom’s networks. According to their findings, the percentage of DDoS attacks aimed at the telecom industry rose to 31%. Just over a year ago, this sector accounted for only 10% of such incidents.

Small regional internet providers, as well as hosting services and data centers, are the most frequent targets for cybercriminals. These organizations are often unprepared for large-scale attacks, as they typically lack the resources to defend against them.

Educational and Government Institutions Also at Risk

Government organizations and educational institutions have also experienced a noticeable increase in DDoS attacks. Over the past year, their share of attacks grew from 2% and 1% respectively to 5% for each sector. Experts attribute this trend to the conditions of self-isolation and increased reliance on online services.

The most dramatic growth—an increase of 153%—was observed in attacks on electronic gradebooks, online testing platforms, and other similar educational services. Despite this, Rostelecom-Solar reports that the gaming industry remains the leading target for DDoS attacks, accounting for 34% of all such incidents.

Overall DDoS Attack Trends

The total number of DDoS attacks on Russian companies during the reported period increased by 63%. Cybercriminals are increasingly using low-power attacks in short bursts, making them harder to detect and mitigate.