What is Ransom Denial of Service (RDoS) Attack? How to Prevent?

Introduction

Ransom Denial of Service (RDoS) attacks which is a relatively new form of assault in the cyber security continuum are fast becoming a worry to organisations globally. These are hybrid attacks that incorporate the DDoS attack on targets’ resources with ransomware threats, making them a serious threat to various organizations.

What is a Ransom Denial of Service (RDoS) Attack?

An RDoS attack is perhaps the most common cyber threat, which involves attackers using threats to carry out a DDoS attack against an organization in exchange for money.

The key elements of an RDoS attack include:

Threat: The attacker sends a ransom note, writing that they will perform a DDoS attack.
Demand: A payment is demanded; preferably, they offer it in the form of cryptocurrency.
Deadline: It then specifies the period within which the payment should be made.
Demonstration: At times, a smaller-scale attack is conducted to demonstrate capacity.

Impact of RDoS Attacks

RDoS attacks can have severe consequences for targeted organizations:

Financial Losses:

Direct costs from paying the ransom.
Revenue loss due to service disruptions.
Expenses for mitigation and recovery.

Reputational Damage:

Loss of customer trust.
Negative media coverage.
Long-term impact on brand image.

Operational Disruption:

Downtime of critical services.
Reduced productivity.
Potential data loss or corruption.

Legal and Regulatory Issues:

Potential lawsuits from affected customers.
Regulatory fines for inadequate security measures.

Psychological Impact:

Stress on employees and management.
Pressure to make quick decisions under duress.

Differences Between RDoS and Traditional DDoS Attacks

While RDoS and DDoS attacks are related, they have key differences that are important to understand:

Features:	DDoS	RDoS
Motive:	Commonly done to create havoc or express a political or ideological message.	Often takes place unexpectedly, and the target is left unprepared.
Warning:	Includes a threat and ransom demand before the attack, and consequently some time to prepare for the attack.	Includes a threat and ransom demand before the attack, and consequently, some time to prepare for the attack.
Duration:	Maybe for a fixed tenure of time pre-decided, which could be until the attacker is drained of his energy.	Maybe for a fixed tenure of time pre-decided, which could be until the attacker is drained of his energy.
Target Selection:	May have an objective on an organization for numerous reasons such as politics or rivalry.	Usually focuses on targets seen as organizations that can generate revenues and that may be affected negatively by disruption of services.
Complexity:	Ranges from basic surface attacks such as flooding attacks to deeper attacks that are a combination of attacks.	Usually takes more time and is more complex since the perpetrator has to manipulate social relationships or an individual’s psychology.
Response Strategy:	Concern is more on the first impact and traffic flow regulation.	Calls for a more elaborate response due to the higher risk, involvement of a threat assessment, and when stakeholders may need to be informed or negotiations may be involved.
Financial Impact:	Expenses are primarily associated with certain damage minimization and revenue loss during the attack.	They are the potential ransom for healthcare facilities and long-term investments in prevention.

How to Respond to an RDoS Threat?

Responding to RDoS threats requires taking timely and appropriate steps to be taken. Follow these steps to respond effectively:

Don’t Panic:

Stay calm and avoid making hasty decisions.
Remember that many threats are not carried out.

Activate Your Incident Response Plan:

Report the matter to your cybersecurity desk as soon as possible.
Inform the key stakeholders in your organization.
Contact the Cyber Security Experts.

Assess the Threat:

Based on the identified threats, assess the validity of the threat.
Find out if a demonstration attack has taken place.

Secure Your Systems:

Use the emergency DDoS mitigation measures.
Make sure to safeguard all the fundamental processes.
Follow the Cyber Attack Recovery Steps

Document Everything:

Any communication made by the attackers should be documented.
Record any kind of networking activities with high alertness.

Contact Law Enforcement:

Ensure the threat has been reported to the relevant authorities.
Consultation on how to relate with should be sought.

Engage Your DDoS Mitigation Provider:

Inform your provider about the likely attack.
Make sure they are prepared for a prompt reaction.

Communicate with Stakeholders:

Report the situation to relevant stakeholders.
When necessary, prepare statements for customers or media inquiries and responses, if any.

Monitor Closely:

Be aware of suspected signs that an attack may be about to be launched.
It is necessary to be prepared to put the chosen mitigation measure.

Do Not Engage with Attackers:

Do not respond to the threat actors, directly or indirectly.
Let the police deal with issues entailing any form of confrontation.

Consider Legal Counsel:

Discuss with legal advisors on prospects for Legal Action.
Acquire awareness about data protection responsibilities.

Review and Update:

Upon removal of this threat, people should evaluate their actions.
Revise your incident response plan using the new experience you have gained.

How to Protect Against an RDoS Attack?

It is important to keep in mind that measures against RDoS attacks should be taken at both the organizational and individual levels. Implement these strategies to strengthen your defenses:

Implement Robust DDoS Protection:

High-capacity DDoS mitigation solutions should be considered as an investment.
It is advised to think about cloud protection as a way of expanding possibilities.
Try your DDoS defenses frequently and make necessary modifications from time to time.

Enhance Network Infrastructure:

Customers ought to have a backup network in cases where the main network is attacked.
The other measure, such as WAF, can be taken to put in place traffic filtering and rate-limiting measures.
To distribute the traffic, it is advised to use Content Delivery Networks (CDNs).

Develop a Comprehensive Incident Response Plan:

Make guidelines on how to respond to RDoS threats and attacks very elaborate.
Ensure you conduct periodic rehearsals to determine the efficiency of your emergency plan.
It is recommended to specify the duties and responsibilities of the team members.

Strengthen Access Controls:

Enforce 2-factor or multi-factor authentication for all the business-critical systems.
Limit the users and their ability to access a system to only what is needed.
Accomplish frequent audits and revisions to the level of permission granted.

Educate Your Team:

Ensure that employees are frequently trained about cybersecurity measures.
Educate the staff on how to identify risks and alert security personnel to them.
Carry out exercises to rehearse the response measures.

Monitor Network Traffic:

Provide reporting tools to enable the timely identification of anomalies.
To be established to provide early notice of bursts in traffic or some other activities.
By employing behavioral analytics, a threat can be predicted before it occurs.

Keep Systems Updated:

Make a habit of patching and updating all employed systems and software.
Ensure that appropriate measures are in place to manage patches.
Address known vulnerabilities promptly.

Collaborate with ISPs and Security Providers:

Consult your Internet Service Provider for much tighter security.
Hire cybersecurity companies for professional help and assistance.
Be an active member of the information-sharing networks in your field of operation.

Implement Web Application Firewalls (WAF):

WAFs can be used to protect against application-layer attacks.
One needs to update WAF rules frequently in response to the emergence of new threat patterns.

Conduct Regular Security Audits:

Perform comprehensive vulnerability assessments.
Carry out penetration testing so that the potential vulnerabilities can be seen.
Address identified vulnerabilities promptly.

Secure Your DNS:

It is highly recommended that DNSSEC be used to mitigate DNS spoofing attacks.
Use DNS redundancy to increase availability.

Consider Cyber Insurance:

Investigate insurance solutions that can be taken against RDoS attacks.
Get policy information and ensure the policy’s level of security compliance.

Plan for Business Continuity:

Identify methods that will enable the organization to keep running keyline functions during an attack.
Drawing up of back-up systems and other additional means of communication.

Stay Informed:

Learn about the modern approaches and strategies of RDoS.
Chair cybersecurity forums and Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs).

Conclusion

Ransom DoS attacks are a new type of and growing threat in the cybersecurity profile. By integrating aspects of DDoS attacks with extortion features, these attacks are a formidable problem that affects all organizations regardless of their size.

As we have highlighted, the most effective medicine against RDoS is long-term prevention work that strengthens the digital security of organizations and the wider society.

FAQs

What’s the difference between a DDoS attack and an RDoS attack?

Even though LAS and RDoS attacks focus on overloading targets’ systems, the latter implies a ransom before the attack occurs. Traditional DDoS attacks are launched unexpectedly, and such attacks may not necessarily be for monetary gain.

Should we pay the ransom if threatened with an RDoS attack?

Police normally warn against paying off any form of ransom, as this only makes the attacker greedier and does not ensure that there will not be another attack in the future. This is preferable when it comes to investing in strong anti-DDoS measures and having a response plan for the given incidents.

How can we tell if we’re being targeted by an RDoS attack?

Indications include being sent a ransom message stating that a DDoS attack will be launched against a network, which is followed by a small-scale DDoS to prove the threat is real, or observing certain traffic flow anomalies in the network.

What Immediate steps should we take if we receive an RDoS Threat?

Follow the plan provided in your Incident Response Plan, inform your cyber team and management, contact your DDoS service provider, and perhaps report to the authorities. Avoid confronting the attackers in any way; do not reply to them.

Can Cyber Insurance protect us from RDoS Attacks?

Payouts for RDoS attacks can be reimbursed by some cyber insurance policies, though the level of reimbursement differs across the policies. Always read the fine print when it comes to insurance policies and speak to your insurance professional about RDoS and what it may cover.