TDoS attacks target US emergency call centers

[Jack]

Emergency call centers in the US are suffering a rise in TDoS (telephony denial of service) attacks, according to an alert issued recently by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

According to the alert, reposted [PDF] on security journalist Brian Krebs's site, dozens of attacks have targeted PSAP administrative lines (not the 911 emergency line), tying up the system from receiving legitimate calls.

Air ambulance, ambulance and hospital communication lines have been targeted, in addition to various businesses and public entities, the alert goes on, including the financial sector.

The recent attacks are aimed at extortion. Here's how they work, according to DHS and the FBI:

1. An individual calls, claiming to represent a payday loan collections company.
2. The caller typically has a strong accent and asks to speak with a current or former employee about an outstanding debt.
3. The caller demands payment of $5,000 because an employee (who no longer works for the company or never did) defaulted on a loan.
4. When the target fails to cough up the money, the attacker launches a TDoS.
5. The organization is then inundated with a continuous stream of calls for an unspecified but lengthy period of time.
6. Phone service is disrupted, preventing incoming and/or outgoing calls.

Read more: http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2013/04/03/tdos-attacks-target-emergency-call-centers/

 

[Gnosis]

Sounds like FEMA needs to get their butts in gear.

Chaos........C H A O S.......chaos

You know, for the spelling bee.

 

[jamescv7]

Avoid those calls which you don't have recalled any transactions.

That's the first symptom where a person could fool on the trick.


Unknown calls just hang up for it when there's no purpose for the call.

 

[softwareFREEk]

Sounds like FEMA needs to get their butts in gear.

Chaos........C H A O S.......chaos

You know, for the spelling bee.

I am glad that you spelled it out Gnosis because for a moment I thought you was referring to Maxwell Smart