Hacker Attacks on Online Casinos Increasing
Computer hackers are using new techniques to increase denial of service attacks on online casinos and other websites. Officials from communications company Cable and Wireless told ComputerWeekly that both the sophistication and the strength of attacks is on the rise.Internet casinos have received the brunt of attacks, as the hackers, suspected of originating in Russia, seek to extort payment in exchange for ceasing the onslaught. But other sites are feeling greater numbers of attacks, and authorities aren't always sure of motives.
"Attackers are looking beyond online gambling services to include government organisations, commercial enterprises, banks and social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook," said Graham Smith, security manager at C and W.
Denial of Service prevention systems are designed to detect attacks based on high volumes from one server, but attackers have switched to using bots and hijacked computers in the thousands to thwart the defensive operations.
"This increases attackers' chances of success because DoS detection systems take longer to spot these widely distributed attacks," said Smith.
Smith said the attacks are too powerful for standard defensive software to block, and the attacks could only be stopped at the service provider level.
