A smurf attack is a type of distributed denial of service (DDos) attack where the attacker uses a network's broadcast addresses to flood a target with large amounts of traffic. These attacks are currently less common because of better network security practices, but they still require awareness and proper network configuration to prevent
Understanding Smurf attacks
According to the CISA, “In a Smurf Attack, the attacker sends Internet Control Message Protocol broadcast packets to a number of hosts with a spoofed source Internet Protocol (IP) address that belongs to the target machine. The recipients of these spoofed packets will then respond, and the targeted host will be flooded with those responses.”
In this attack, the attacker spoofs the source address of the ping request so that it looks like the request is from the victim's IP address. All devices in the network reply to the victim's overwhelming resources with traffic.
The attack is especially dangerous because of its amplification effect. A single ping request sent to a broadcast address can generate numerous replies, increasing traffic volume. The attacker uses it to flood the victim with data often in large quantities that the victim's servers cannot handle.
The potential impact on email accounts and how to avoid it
Smurf attacks, while primarily known for targeting network infrastructure through DDoS traffic, can impact email accounts by overwhelming servers. Despite not being a common form of attack currently, threat actors often exploit outdated systems through simpler means of attack.
When a smurf attack floods an email network with excessive traffic, it can consume server resources causing slow performance or complete server outages. If an email server is affected, users can experience delayed or failed email deliveries. The affected server causes a disruption to healthcare operations. This chaos can then be exploited to launch further targeted phishing attacks using email systems as vehicles for malware or scam messages.
How to avoid the impact of Smurf attacks on email accounts
HIPAA compliant email platforms like Paubox are built with the latest consideration for security risks to vulnerable sectors like healthcare. Since Smurf attacks often target vulnerable email servers by flooding them with traffic, Paubox’s cloud-based infrastructure offers a more resilient defense against disruptions.
The use of transport layer security (TLS) ensures that emails are transmitted securely, reducing the risk of interception or unauthorized access during attempted attacks. The platform also provides tailored email filtering that helps to prevent malicious spam and phishing attempts that could follow a Smurf attack.
FAQs
What is HIPAA?
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act is a law that sets the standard for the privacy and security of patient information.
What is SMTP?
Simple Mail Transfer Protocols are a set of rules used to send and receive emails over the Internet.
What are network protocols?
Network protocols are sets of rules that define how devices communicate with each other over a network like the Internet.
Kirsten Peremore
