The gaming industry has faced a significant surge in cybersecurity threats, with layer 7 distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks increasing by a staggering 94% over the past year, according to a report by Akamai. The analysis, which covers the period from January 2023 to June 2024, underscores the escalating security challenges in a sector that boasts 2.58 billion players and a market valuation of $184.4 billion. The report highlights how the industry’s high revenue and extensive player base make it a prime target for cyber-attacks.
The report details that peak months, including June and August 2023, each saw over 25 billion layer 7 DDoS attacks. The Asia-Pacific and Japan (APJ) region, contributing $85.8 billion in revenue, reported the highest number of attacks, totaling 186 billion over 18 months. Additionally, bot activity saw a dramatic rise, with January 2024 alone recording a record 147 billion bot requests, a 391% increase from the previous year. Key events, such as the Steam Summer Sale, were particularly targeted, indicating times when gamers are most vulnerable.
Web application firewall (WAF) attacks also surged by 94% during this period, while SQL injection (SQLi) attacks emerged as the most common traditional web threat, with over 700 million incidents reported. The increase in DDoS and web application attacks highlights the growing sophistication of cyber threats facing the gaming community, necessitating more robust security measures.
Regionally, North America experienced the highest volume of web attacks, significantly surpassing EMEA and APJ. As the gaming industry continues to expand, its technological prowess and large player base both enhance its appeal and vulnerability to cyber threats. This growing threat landscape calls for the implementation of advanced and adaptive security measures to safeguard the interests of players and developers alike.
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