NEWS
Compromised Linux Servers Fall into Massive Botnet
The security firm Akamai is reporting on a giant botnet populated by Linux servers that is capable of delivering a distributed denial-of-service attack of up to a whopping 179Gbps. The attack uses SYN and DNS traffic to sniff out victim web servers. So far, the victims have been mostly in Asia, and many are companies concentrated in the gaming sector.
At the core of the attack is a malware trojan known as XOR.DDoS. The attackers typically infiltrate the system by brute-forcing SSH access. A really strong password is the best defense against the initial entry.
This attack underscores an increasing tendency for attackers to focus on Linux. This trend probably does not reflect reduced security of Linux systems but could be a response to the fact that Windows security has improved in recent years. The average Windows system is not the low-hanging fruit it once was, which has forced attackers to spread out their search for targets. The trend might also reflect overconfidence of the Linux community in assuming their systems are immune from attack. (These people already knew they were supposed to use strong passwords for SSH, right?)
Akamai provides a full report on the attack for users who are willing to provide contact information.
Rackspace Will Resell Amazon Cloud Services
Cloud vendor Rackspace has entered into a partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS). The deal is similar to the pact Rackspace signed with Microsoft in July, in which Rackspace acts as a reseller for the background cloud vendor.
The news provides some insights into Amazon's global cloud strategy and resources. It appears that Amazon has more capacity than it can sell on its own, so it is drawn to the role of serving as a wholesaler for cloud space marketed by other companies. Rackspace, on the other hand, offers significant market presence and sales resources but could be finding it more difficult to compete directly with huge data vendors like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft for cheap cloud space. The move could thus lead to a winning scenario for both companies. The fact that Rackspace now has partnerships with both Amazon and Microsoft could put the company in a strong position to negotiate favorable terms if they succeed in their new role as a cloud reseller.
Attackers Buy Real Ads for Fake Websites
The security blog malwarebytes.org reports that a recent global malware attack actually used paid ads on some well-known websites and ad networks. According to senior security researcher Jérôme Segura, attackers posed as legitimate ad buyers and constructed elaborate but fake websites advertising real estate, security software, stock market tips, and other services typically found in web ads. A user who clicked on the ad was subjected to an attack through the notorious Angler Exploit Kit.
The attack ran for three weeks and is known to have appeared on sites such as eBay UK, Answers.com, legacy.com, and several prime porn destinations.
« Previous 1 2 3 4 Next »
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Canonical Bumps LTS Support to 12 years
If you're worried that your Ubuntu LTS release won't be supported long enough to last, Canonical has a surprise for you in the form of 12 years of security coverage.
-
Fedora 40 Beta Released Soon
With the official release of Fedora 40 coming in April, it's almost time to download the beta and see what's new.
-
New Pentesting Distribution to Compete with Kali Linux
SnoopGod is now available for your testing needs
-
Juno Computers Launches Another Linux Laptop
If you're looking for a powerhouse laptop that runs Ubuntu, the Juno Computers Neptune 17 v6 should be on your radar.
-
ZorinOS 17.1 Released, Includes Improved Windows App Support
If you need or desire to run Windows applications on Linux, there's one distribution intent on making that easier for you and its new release further improves that feature.
-
Linux Market Share Surpasses 4% for the First Time
Look out Windows and macOS, Linux is on the rise and has even topped ChromeOS to become the fourth most widely used OS around the globe.
-
KDE’s Plasma 6 Officially Available
KDE’s Plasma 6.0 "Megarelease" has happened, and it's brimming with new features, polish, and performance.
-
Latest Version of Tails Unleashed
Tails 6.0 is based on Debian 12 and includes GNOME 43.
-
KDE Announces New Slimbook V with Plenty of Power and KDE’s Plasma 6
If you're a fan of KDE Plasma, you'll be thrilled to hear they've announced a new Slimbook with an AMD CPU and the latest version of KDE Plasma desktop.
-
Monthly Sponsorship Includes Early Access to elementary OS 8
If you want to get a glimpse of what's in the pipeline for elementary OS 8, just set up a monthly sponsorship to help fund its continued existence.