How Does a Teardrop Attack Work?
The average digital system is built to handle a certain amount of data coming in all at the same time. As a result, data, or network traffic, is often broken down into smaller pieces and then tagged with a specific number in something known as the fragment offset field. Re-arranging them in the correct order once they arrive is the usual state of affairs when there is no attack.
However, during a teardrop attack, the cybercriminal injects a flaw into the fragment offset field, which disrupts the resequencing process. As a result, your system gathers a large collection of corrupt fragmented data that can’t be properly reassembled. Unfortunately, your system simply overloads and crashes without (adequate) warning.
Examples of Teardrop attacks
Over the years, there have been several notable attacks on large systems that many people in the cybersecurity industry might be familiar with. These include (and are by no means limited to):
- Windows NT and 95: teardrop attacks first had a major impact across Windows 3.1x, NT and 95 in the late 1990s, driving Microsoft to release a patch to close off the vulnerability in response to many cases of system failure.
- Home systems: these types of attacks were frequent on both legacy Windows and Linux systems, mainly found in Windows 95 and Linux kernels prior to 2.1.63.
- Android/Rowhammer: an attack similar in nature to a teardrop attack known as RAMpage threatened every Android device released between 2012 and 2018.
Teardrop Attack prevention
There are several different ways to prevent a teardrop attack on your network or local system. The below cybersecurity advice will work for a number of different digital threats and malware, not just teardrop attacks.
Update Your OS
First of all, we recommend updating all of your software and your operating system and making sure to download all of the available security patches from the relevant developers. As previously explained, system vulnerabilities are the usual entry vector for teardrop attacks, so this is an easy way to protect your local machine and broader network.
Port blocking
If you’re unable to patch your old software or mission-critical applications, one of the best ways to prevent teardrop attacks is by disabling ports 139 and 445. By doing this, you’ll be blocking any potentially dangerous server messages in the systems that weren’t able to receive the security updates from their vendors.
Activate your firewall
One of the simplest ways to prevent a teardrop attack (and to protect your local machine in general) is to make sure you have a reputable and comprehensive firewall or cybersecurity solution installed on your machine or network. We recommend using our dedicated security software Kaspersky Premium, which can offer you an unbreakable firewall, regular updates, and consistent help and support.
FAQs
What is a Teardrop Attack?
A teardrop attack is a Denial-of-Service (DOS) attack that floods a user's system with flawed, fragmented data packets until the system (or network) crashes and shuts down. Sometimes known as Teardrop DDoS attacks, Teardrop attacks usually target servers that have an existing TC
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