Hacktivists Increasingly Collaborating with DDoS Providers

• •Nine out of 148 analyzed actors showed ties to hacktivism.
• •Hacktivists are using both self-made and commercial DDoS tools.
• •DDoS providers are leveraging public campaigns to attract clients.

Kaspersky's recent research highlights a growing connection between hacktivist groups and DDoS-for-hire services. Among 148 actors analyzed, 9 were identified as having ties to hacktivism, indicating a trend where these groups leverage commercial attack providers to enhance their operational capabilities. The research noted that some hacktivists are promoting self-developed DDoS tools while others rely on external services. DDoS providers are using public campaigns to showcase their effectiveness, thereby attracting potential clients from the darknet. The study also revealed a competitive advertising ecosystem among DDoS providers, utilizing aggregator sites and messaging platforms to increase visibility. Kaspersky advises organizations to adopt comprehensive digital risk protection services to monitor threats across various web layers.