Search Engine Optimisation, Promotion and Internet Marketing

Increase in web server hacks

25 April 2005

Attacks on web servers have increased rapidly and more than 2,500 are hacked every day, a new report reveals.

According to Zone-H web server attacks and website defacements increased by more than a third (36 per cent) during 2004, with a total of 392, 545 incidents reported.

Forty-nine attacks were carried out against US military servers last year, many in protest against the Iraq War.

Zone-H, an online organisation that uses a global network of volunteers, also found that the Christmas holidays are a very popular time for malicious hackers to attack and deface sites, as workers have long holidays. The frequency of attacks also lessens around the time schools re-open, suggesting teen hackers could be responsible for a number of attacks.

"Defacement is just one option for an attacker," said Roberto Preatoni, Zone-H co-ordinator. "In most circumstances the techniques used by defacers are the same techniques used by serious criminals to cause more serious damage."

Website defacements were the most popular form of attack, while other attacks involved hacking a site in an attempt to get at information it holds. The research found that 55 per cent of the attacks exploited a known bug, vulnerability or administration error on the website.

Zone-H, established three years ago, has logged details of almost one million attacks.

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