Study: DDoS Attacks Dominate Global Cyber Threat Landscape
NETSCOUT has reported a staggering rise in DDoS attacks, recording over 8 million incidents globally in the first half of 2025. Among these, 3.2 million attacks occurred across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). The scale of these attacks has exceeded 3 terabits per second, increasingly targeting critical infrastructure and sectors.
The research illustrates the shift in DDoS attacks from being merely nuisances to sophisticated weapons employed in geopolitical battles. Hacktivists, automated systems driven by artificial intelligence, and DDoS-for-hire services have revolutionized the tactics used in these attacks, heightening risks for businesses and government entities alike.
DDoS attacks are now capable of crippling communication networks, transportation systems, energy sources, and defense mechanisms. Groups like NoName057(16) have been particularly active, coordinating numerous attacks each month, leveraging automation and multi-vector strategies, including AI-enhanced attack methodologies. The use of botnets composed of vulnerable Internet of Things (IoT) devices, routers, and servers has increased, enabling high-volume traffic that overwhelms defenses. Additionally, DDoS-for-hire platforms have made it easier for less experienced attackers to launch large-scale, complex campaigns.
The report also highlights significant incidents that underline the global implications of these cyber threats. NETSCOUT documented over 50 attacks that surpassed one terabit per second. Notably, the Netherlands experienced a peak attack reaching 3.12 terabits per second, while the U.S. faced a 1.5 gigapacket-per-second incident. Geopolitical conflicts have further aggravated the situation: during rising tensions between India and Pakistan, Indian government and financial institutions were bombarded with assaults in May. Similarly, escalating conflict between Iran and Israel in June led to over 15,000 attacks directed at Iran and nearly 300 targeting Israel.
Continuing Rise of Botnet DDoS Attacks
In addition to the sheer volume of attacks, botnet-driven initiatives have surged. March saw NETSCOUT tracking an average of 880 bot-powered attacks daily, with peaks at 1,600. These attacks typically last around 18 minutes, managing to disrupt operations while remaining under the radar of some mitigation efforts. New players are emerging alongside established groups; for instance, DieNet accounted for over 60 attacks since March, while Keymous+ conducted 73 incidents across 23 nations. Notably, NoName057(16) topped the list with 475 attacks in March alone, significantly outpacing other groups and targeting government websites in countries like Spain, Taiwan, and Ukraine.
“To combat these advanced threats, it’s clear that traditional defense mechanisms are inadequate,” stated Richard Hummel, director of threat intelligence at NETSCOUT. “Hacktivists are increasingly employing automation and AI-driven tools such as WormGPT and FraudGPT. Despite recent efforts to dismantle major attack groups, the threat remains as they can easily resurface. Organizations must implement intelligence-driven, proven defenses that can effectively address today’s complex attack patterns.”
NETSCOUT’s insights stem from extensive monitoring of global networks, providing them the ability to observe massive traffic flows and secure two-thirds of the routed IPv4 space. With their capabilities to detect hundreds of thousands of attack attempts every day, they stress the critical need for enterprises and service providers to enhance their security frameworks. As AI-enabled automation lowers the bar for conducting DDoS campaigns, the risks to vital infrastructure, global connectivity, and digital trust are anticipated to grow unless there is a shift towards more advanced and intelligence-led security solutions.
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