Cloudflare Defends Against Record 22.2 Tbps DDoS Attack
Cloudflare has successfully defended against a record-breaking DDoS attack, with a peak load of 22.2 terabits per second (Tbps) and 10.6 billion packets per second (Bpps). This attack, lasting just 40 seconds, is the largest publicly disclosed to date.
The attack, attributed to the botnet known as 'Mēris', was mitigated completely automatically by Cloudflare in early September 2021. This incident highlights the need for companies and organizations to be prepared for attacks of unprecedented scale. DDoS attacks aim to make servers, networks, and applications inaccessible by flooding them with traffic, potentially causing delays or complete service outages. The short duration of this attack fits the 'hit-and-run' tactic, aiming to cause maximum damage in a limited time before defenders can respond manually. Cloudflare has been warning about an increase in large-scale DDoS attacks, with a 44 percent increase in the second quarter of 2025 compared to a year earlier. This trend towards larger and more frequent attacks underscores the importance of advanced security measures.
The 22.2 Tbps incident serves as a stark reminder of the evolving threat landscape. Companies and organizations must be prepared for attacks of this scale and ensure they have robust, automated defence mechanisms in place. Cloudflare's successful mitigation demonstrates the effectiveness of such measures, but the increasing frequency and scale of attacks underscore the ongoing need for vigilance and investment in cybersecurity.
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