What is Mirai?

Mirai Malware: How it Targeted IoT to Fuel Major Cyber Attacks and Caused Real Life Threats

Mirai is a well-known term particularly in relation to malware. This infamous malicious software, named after the Japanese word for 'future', was first discovered in 2016 and continues to serve as a paradigm in cybersecurity due to the scale and complexity of the attack it facilitated.

Isolating the general concept, Mirai is essentially a malware strain that transforms networked devices running on Linux into remotely controlled bots, or "zombies," that can be employed as part of a botnet, a network of internet-connected devices each running one or more bots, in large-scale network attacks.

What differentiates this malware from its predecessors is its tightly focused method of attack. Mirai specifically targets "Internet of Things" (IoT) devices, such as Digital Video Recorders, IP cameras, and routers, which generally have poor security measures in place and thus serve as easy targets. This capability allowed the malware to create substantial botnets that significantly impacted the digital ecosystem barring any preventive antivirus software or protocols.

Utilizing a table of common factory default usernames and passwords, Mirai wormed its way into IoT devices, turning them into bots. Then, these bots scanned the internet for the IP address of susceptible IoT devices and further spread the infection, creating a continuously expanding network of zombified devices. Time and again, these unsophisticated credentials were more than enough for Mirai to gain access since it is common for users not to change their default configurations, presenting a security risk that Mirai skilfully exploited.

Mirai botnets have been utilized to instigate some of the most massive and disruptive Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks in history. One of the most notable examples heralded this malicious software’s introduction to the broader public as it took down a considerable portion of the internet in the United States in October 2016, disrupting smart homes and major websites such as Netflix, Twitter, Reddit, and CNN, among others.

While antivirus software can essentially defend PCs and networks from most traditional malware forms - by detecting, quarantining, and eradicating them - dealing with the unique threat proffered by Mirai is something of a challenge. Its target – IoT devices – rarely come equipped with their security measures or are properly shielded by traditional antivirus security.

These unsophisticated devices, often coupled with the listlessness in updating default settings, make for easy prey. A vast majority of IoT devices on the market are not built for robust defenses, making an open-source Mirai a continuing threat. Interestingly, while concerted attempts have essentially banished those initial strains of Mirai from most networks, derivatives and successive iterations remain an ominous threat to cybersecurity, IoT sectors in particular.

While different companies have started paying heed to device security in light of these attacks, many older devices wouldn't receive these updates. even though the code for this malware was released to the public and the creators arrested, the open-source nature of its code has led to a plethora of Mirai variants. This has further complicated the task of tackling such cyber threats as developers create more evolved and sophisticated applications galvanized by their infamous predecessor.

Mirai is a stark reminder for cybersecurity experts and technology users in the paradox of technology. With innovations like IoT enhancing our lives in remarkable ways, these advancements have also introduced new potential cyber threats. The Mirai malware underpins the importance of internet hygiene – regularly updating systems, setting strong passwords, and protecting devices from foreign intrusions with advanced antivirus solutions. At the same time, it showcases the multiple ways that technologies, left unsecured or, worse still, undervalued, can be manipulated towards enormous regret.

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