[ConcernedCitizen]

As COVID-19 continues to cause disruption, cyberattacks haven't let up, either.

In 2021, thousands of new cybersecurity incidents have been recorded -- and while cryptocurrency theft and data loss are now commonplace, this year stands out due to several high-profile incidents involving ransomware, supply chain attacks, and the exploitation of critical vulnerabilities.

The Identity Theft Research Center (ITRC) has reported an increase of 17% in the number of recorded data breaches during 2021 in comparison to 2020. However, an entrenched lack of transparency around the disclosure of security incidents continues to persist -- and so this may be a low ball estimation.

According to IBM, the average cost of a data breach has now reached over $4 million, while Mimecast estimates that the average ransomware demand levied against US companies is well over $6 million. The world record for the largest payout, made by an insurance company this year, now stands at $40 million.

Src: https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-bigges...s-of-2021/

[Dismas]

In terms of scale and real world consequences, the Colonial Pipeline breach was probably the "biggest".

They shut down 5500+ miles of pipeline and paid a $5 million ransom in the end. $2.3 million was later recovered.

[ConcernedCitizen]

In terms of scale and real world consequences, the Colonial Pipeline breach was probably the "biggest".

They shut down 5500+ miles of pipeline and paid a $5 million ransom in the end. $2.3 million was later recovered.

Yes, the largest amount they paid was included in the cost of oil they couldn't send through the pipes. I can bet that alone was in the tens of millions. Not the actual security response they paid for man-hours and on site operations for remediation.

[mothered]

With regard to Internet attacks and cost of damage due to downtime or otherwise, I clearly remember Mafia Boy back In 2000.

at 15 years old, he executed a massive denial-of-service (DoS) attack that crippled some of the internet’s most popular websites. Calling the attack Rivolta, meaning “riot” in Italian, he brought down Yahoo!, eBay, CNN, Amazon, and other sites, causing an estimated $1.7 billion in damages.

It was, for Its time, a very significant and costly attack.

[ConcernedCitizen]

With regard to Internet attacks and cost of damage due to downtime or otherwise, I clearly remember Mafia Boy back In 2000.

at 15 years old, he executed a massive denial-of-service (DoS) attack that crippled some of the internet’s most popular websites. Calling the attack Rivolta, meaning “riot” in Italian, he brought down Yahoo!, eBay, CNN, Amazon, and other sites, causing an estimated $1.7 billion in damages.

It was, for Its time, a very significant and costly attack.

This is indeed very significant loss of connectivity. Yahoo, at its peak, serviced about a billion users with email and games. That's a conservative guess. It was a loss of both communication and ad revenue for the company.

[mothered]

This is indeed very significant loss of connectivity. Yahoo, at its peak, serviced about a billion users with email and games. That's a conservative guess. It was a loss of both communication and ad revenue for the company.

It was actually the largest Internet attack at the time.

You can watch the documentary with Mafia Boy, It's only a few minutes. Forward to the "15:40" mark.

[ConcernedCitizen]

This is indeed very significant loss of connectivity. Yahoo, at its peak, serviced about a billion users with email and games. That's a conservative guess. It was a loss of both communication and ad revenue for the company.

It was actually the largest Internet attack at the time.

You can watch the documentary with Mafia Boy, It's only a few minutes. Forward to the "15:40" mark.

And it's sad that, what was once a few months in detention, is now considered domestic terrorism, cyber espionage, and treason.

[Marshland]

I wonder if they were mostly elaborate attacks performed by masters of the craft or done by an average Nigerian prince that writes in broken English

[ConcernedCitizen]

I wonder if they were mostly elaborate attacks performed by masters of the craft or done by an average Nigerian prince that writes in broken English

...highly knowledgeable individuals, not just script kiddies.

[jimm.kenobi]

It is a warzone out there. stay frosty