Why do IoT devices send large volumes of outbound traffic to random IP addresses? Learn how compromised IoT devices are used in botnets for DDoS attacks—essential knowledge for CompTIA Security+ (Plus) SY0-701 exam success.
Table of Contents
Question
A security analyst notices that IoT devices are sending large volumes of outbound traffic to random IP addresses. What is most likely happening?
A. DDoS attack using a botnet
B. DNS cache poisoning
C. Man-in-the-middle attack
D. Supply chain attack
E. RFID skimming
Answer
A. DDoS attack using a botnet
Explanation
IoT devices are often compromised to form botnets like Mirai, which are used for DDoS attacks.
When IoT devices are observed sending large volumes of outbound traffic to random IP addresses, the most likely scenario is a DDoS attack using a botnet.
IoT botnets are networks of compromised Internet of Things devices (such as routers, cameras, and smart appliances) that have been infected with malware. These devices are remotely controlled by attackers and used to launch large-scale cyberattacks, most commonly Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks.
In a DDoS attack, each infected device (bot) generates massive amounts of outbound traffic, often targeting random or specific IP addresses to overwhelm the victim’s network or service, causing disruption or complete unavailability.
The Mirai botnet and similar malware families are well-known for exploiting weak credentials and vulnerabilities in IoT devices to build large botnets capable of generating significant attack traffic.
The presence of unusual outbound traffic from multiple IoT devices is a strong indicator that these devices have been compromised and conscripted into a botnet for DDoS activities.
This pattern of behavior is not typical of normal IoT device operation and is a hallmark of botnet-driven DDoS attacks, which can impact both the targeted victims and the owners of the compromised devices.
Compromised IoT devices are commonly used in botnets to launch DDoS attacks, generating large volumes of outbound traffic to random IP addresses as part of coordinated attack campaigns.
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