Intensification of Cyberattacks Against DeepSeek

On January 30, 2023, there was a reported increase in cyberattacks targeting the Chinese artificial intelligence company DeepSeek, according to an analysis by cybersecurity firm XLab, covered by the Asian media outlet Global Times.

XLab informed the newspaper that at least two bot networks were involved in the attacks observed on this date against DeepSeek, which is known for its AI product. The attacks occurred in two waves during the early hours of the day.

Since January 3, DeepSeek has faced sustained and large-scale DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks. XLab indicates that these operations intensified recently, especially after a new AI model developed in China topped the charts of the most downloaded applications globally. This success has stirred geopolitical and commercial tensions, highlighting advancements in the technology sector of China amid ongoing boycotts from Washington and its allies.

DDoS attacks occur when a multitude of bot networks overwhelm an app or website, intending to disrupt normal web traffic and block genuine visitors.

After nearly a month of continuous monitoring of DeepSeek, XLab shared with Global Times that the nature of the attacks has been evolving. Initially, the assaults involved easily mitigated amplification attacks. However, by January 28, they shifted to more complex HTTP proxy attacks, which are more challenging to defend against, and have now primarily focused on bot network-based attacks.

XLab has reported, "Attackers are employing multiple techniques and methods to target DeepSeek." They also noted that the use of bot networks suggests that the attackers are professionals.

The emergence of DeepSeek has caught the attention of former President Donald Trump, who, during his early presidency, initiated efforts to boost the AI and cryptocurrency industries. He remarked that the arrival of DeepSeek's AI should serve as a wake-up call for Silicon Valley, stating, "The launch of DeepSeek's AI by a Chinese company should signal our industries to focus on competition to succeed."

cyberattacks, DeepSeek, AI