Harshil Doshi Weighs in on the Recent DDoS Attack and Its Implications

Social media platforms are a hotbed for high-profile events, attracting millions of users eager to witness the latest news or celebrity interactions. However, the recent DDoS attack that disrupted the much-anticipated Trump-Musk interview on X has raised serious concerns about the platform's cybersecurity preparedness, particularly during such critical moments. This incident is not an isolated case, mirroring a similar attack in May 2023 that targeted another platform.

To gain a deeper understanding of the implications of this incident and explore strategies for enhancing digital resilience, we spoke with Harshil Doshi, Country Manager of India & SAARC region, Securonix. Doshi provides expert insights into the significance of the attack, the potential long-term effects on social media security, and the role of advanced technologies and regulatory bodies in mitigating such threats.

Excerpts:

Impact of the DDoS Attack

How significant do you think the DDoS attack on X during the Trump-Musk interview is in the context of social media security?

The recent attack on X is particularly troubling, as it mirrors a similar incident from May 2023 when Florida Governor Ron DeSantis attempted to announce his nomination on the platform alongside Elon Musk. That event was severely delayed due to a comparable DDoS attack. Experts suggest that the root cause of these cyberattacks may be the layoffs following Musk's takeover, which left the platform with insufficient staff to safeguard its network and users.

DDoS attacks are not only disruptive to services but also detrimental to the platform's reputation. The erosion of trust can drive users away, a trend analysts are already observing with X's declining user base. Moreover, these attacks result in significant financial losses, from reduced advertising revenue to the costs associated with mitigation. In the long term, such incidents could alter user behavior, as people become increasingly wary of sharing their information due to concerns over the platform's data security measures. Additionally, platforms that frequently experience cyberattacks may encounter increased cybersecurity insurance premiums or face potential regulatory fines for failing to comply with data protection regulations during such incidents.

Preventative Measures

What technologies or strategies should social media platforms like X implement to prevent or mitigate DDoS attacks in the future?

To prevent or mitigate DDoS attacks, social media platforms like X can adopt several key strategies as listed below:

1. Traffic Filtering: Having advanced firewalls and IPS helps in filtering out malicious traffic, while rate limiting controls the number of requests per user, preventing overload.

2. Botnet Mitigation: Deploying botnet detection services and behavioral analysis can help identify and block malicious traffic patterns.

3. Distributed Architecture: Using CDNs and anycast routing distributes traffic across multiple servers, reducing the impact of an attack.

4. Scalable Infrastructure: Auto-scaling and cloud-based DDoS protection services enable platforms to handle traffic spikes during an attack.

5. Network Redundancy: Multiple backup data centers and failover systems keep the network running smoothly during an attack.

6. Threat Intelligence Sharing: Collaborating with cybersecurity organizations for early detection can lead to quicker response times.

Can AI and machine learning play a role in detecting and responding to DDoS attacks more effectively? If so, how?

Yes, absolutely AI and machine learning can help in identifying and mitigating DDoS attacks more effectively. AI/ML evaluates enormous volumes of network data in real-time, pinpointing the specific patterns that can be a potential attack. Unlike traditional methods, which are based on strict rules and require manual intervention, AI-powered systems constantly learn from traffic behavior, which allows them to detect new and developing threats with more accuracy.

AI can detect legitimate traffic and malicious attacks by cutting down on false positives and delivering users uninterrupted service. Machine learning algorithms can also automate responses, allowing for rapid mitigation of attacks, often within seconds. This automated, adaptive approach ensures that networks remain protected against increasingly sophisticated DDoS attacks, maintaining operational stability and minimizing service disruptions.

Digital Resilience

How can social media platforms ensure they remain operational during unexpected spikes in traffic, whether from attacks or high user interest?

Ensuring high-level scalability during spikes in traffic for social platforms involves several key strategies such as adopting scalable hosting solutions and utilizing CDNs to efficiently distribute the load across multiple servers globally. Implementing caching reduces strain by storing frequently accessed data, while load balancing techniques ensure traffic is distributed evenly, preventing any single server from becoming overwhelmed. In addition, real-time traffic monitoring, combined with automated alerts, enables a quick and responsive reaction to sudden surges, whether due to attacks or increased user interest. Finally, optimized code and disaster recovery plans contribute to maintaining a stable and high-quality user experience during high-demand periods.

Regulatory and Compliance Issues

What role do you think regulatory bodies should play in ensuring that social media platforms are prepared to handle cyberattacks?

Regulatory bodies should take an onus to ensure that social media platforms are prepared to handle cyberattacks. It is important for the following reasons:

1. Protection of users - Governments should ensure that users are protected from privacy violations, hate speech or illegal activities. They can enforce certain guidelines on the content and hold social media platforms accountable for any violations.

2. Check for market competition - Regulations should ensure that no monopolistic practices are followed, algorithms are unbiased and users can easily port their data from one platform to another.

In India, Cert-in tracks vulnerabilities and bugs in social media platforms regularly and shares advisories for users on the best practices to follow to ensure a safe internet experience.