E-Business
The Case of Simultaneous, Short Duration DDoS Attacks
Over the last decade, DDoS attacks have proliferated, possibly becoming the primary threat for every website or web application.
The ultimate goal is to bring down sites by flooding them with fake requests, usually from multiple locations. The outcome of such attacks ranges from slow page loads to blocking legitimate traffic.
Among the thousands of DDoS attacks that happen every day, you’ll find attacks that last a number of days, as opposed to short-duration attacks that only take a few minutes for attackers to coordinate and launch at a time.
These attacks are becoming much more commonplace, whether the goal is to take a site down or if they’re used as a smokescreen to divert site owners’ attention.
In this article, I would like to share our real life experience with short-duration DDoS attacks, addressing what happens when this type of attack targets multiple sites simultaneously.
5 Short Attacks in 3 Days
We recently witnessed a three day, continuous attack that targeted two domains of a well-known bank.
On the first day, the bank suffered a significant volumetric attack that lasted five to six minutes, but consumed bandwidth at a rate of dozens of gigabytes per second.
Another attack, that lasted fifteen minutes, took place on the second day, targeting the second domain of the bank. On the third day, the same domain that was targeted the previous day was hit with a long duration attack.
We could see that the first and second attacks were reconnaissance attacks, executed to evaluate which of the two domains was more vulnerable. It is clear that the second domain was more susceptible since it was hit much harder in the third attack.
In parallel, we detected that there was another short-duration spike attack that targeted one of our Telco customers.
Just two hours later, there was another attack against a large utility organization. Because of this pattern, we were able to identify that all three attacks were performed by the same attacker and could warn and better protect our customers against further attacks.
Comparing the volume of bandwidth we’ve encountered on the first day of the attacks, to a DDoS attack’s average peak size of 7.39 Gbps, as reported by SCMagazine, we can see that short-duration attacks use large volumes of traffic in short, shotgun-like bursts.
Attackers leverage these short-duration attacks to evaluate which companies and organizations are easiest to infiltrate.
We assume that this also has to do with the availability of resources. These types of attacks are more likely to come from smaller, private groups that are shorter on resources, as opposed to criminal groups or countries which have access to unlimited resources and can therefore launch long-duration attacks from day-one.
Here’s what we’ve seen over time:
Mitigation
When it comes to short-burst attacks, time is of the essence. Attacks are likely to go under the radar and leave no time to respond.
Organizations managing multiple web domains must have the ability to centralize incoming data, preferably by working with the same security vendor across all their domains.
This enables them to predict attacks by analyzing trends and patterns across their sites. Organizations should demand this capability from their security vendors, who should also be willing to use data from various customers in order to predict potential attacks on other customers, as described in the above case study.
We see a growing number of short duration attacks across our customer base. Awareness to this new pattern is key: customers typically assume that the attack is over, while this may actually be a sign for a much larger attack coming through.
In light of this new pattern using services and tools that can aggregate attack information across customers and websites is an ideal way to predict and avoid the massive DDoS attacks about to come.
Yariv Hazony is VP Product at Sentrix, which provides protection against DDOS and other attacks against web applications, www.sentrix.com
Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has pledged to enforce its legal obligations to combat online intellectual property infringement and urged commercial music users to obtain proper licences from rights holders or their representatives.
The Commission stated that this ensures creators are fairly compensated, supporting the music industry’s sustainable growth.
In a statement commemorating the 2025 World Intellectual Property Day, themed “IP and Music: Feel the Best of IP,” the NCC announced plans to enforce the Copyright Act 2022, which allows for the takedown of infringing materials and blocking of websites hosting illegal content.
Signed by Mrs Ijeoma Egbunike, director of Public Affairs, the statement outlined an aggressive anti-piracy campaign in collaboration with the private sector, targeting the online environment.
Egbunike affirmed the NCC’s commitment to establishing enforceable standards for transparency, digital audits, and real-time royalty reporting to protect creators’ rights. She stated, “The NCC will continue to champion policies that support the growth of the music industry, improve the livelihoods of Nigerian musicians, and foster a culture of creativity and respect for intellectual property.”
Despite the global success of Afrobeats and other Nigerian genres, the NCC noted that many musicians face low royalty returns due to rampant digital piracy.
To address this, the Commission revised its Collective Management Regulations to enhance transparency and accountability among Collective Management Organisations (CMOs).
The NCC emphasised that proper licensing is a legal obligation and vital for Nigeria’s creative economy, stating, “Music must feel the beat of intellectual property for the full potential of creativity to be realised.”
The Commission highlighted that creators’ livelihoods depend on fair royalty compensation.
Recent enforcement measures include the NCC’s designation by the Attorney-General of the Federation as an authority under the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act 2022.
This, combined with the Copyright Act 2022, empowers the NCC to order takedowns and block illegal music distribution websites.
The Federal Government, has warned Nigerians against the growing threat of cyber slavery within the West African sub-region.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement issued in Abuja by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, acting spokesperson, noted with grave concern the alarming rise of cyber slavery across parts of West Africa, targeting Nigerian citizens, particularly vulnerable youths.
The government said many young Nigerians, including underage teenagers, were lured out of the country under the false promise of lucrative employment opportunities abroad, particularly in crypto-related operations.
According to the government, “In reality, these individuals are trafficked into sophisticated scam operations and enslaved to work in criminal “call centres” — often referred to as “419 cyber-scam factories.” There, they are forced under coercive and inhumane conditions to send thousands of fraudulent emails, text messages, and calls aimed at defrauding victims worldwide.”
The government also noted with dismay, a recent incident where the Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO) in Accra, Ghana, rescued and detained a group of Nigerians forced to engage in cybercrime activities under inhumane conditions.
“This incident highlights the severe exploitation and abuse associated with cybercrime operations. It also underscores the need for enhanced efforts to combat such multibillion-dollar criminal networks and mitigate the susceptibility of victims.
“The Ministry strongly warns all Nigerians, especially the youths and parents, to exercise the utmost caution when presented with job offers, particularly those promising easy money, overseas travel, or remote work involving cryptocurrencies.
“Nigerians are therefore advised to verify all employment offers through official channels and report suspicious cases to relevant authorities for necessary investigation and action to curtail the activities of the perpetrators.
“The Ministry wishes to assure the general public that, as a precautionary measure to address this unfortunate situation, the Federal Government is working closely with regional partners, law enforcement agencies, and international organizations to tackle this heinous crime, rescue victims, and bring perpetrators to justice.
“The Ministry remains committed to protecting Nigerian citizens at home and abroad and will continue to raise awareness about emerging threats to the welfare and dignity of our people,” the statement read.
E-Business
ALX Nigeria Launches 2025 Ventures Incubator, Premieres Pan-African “Do Hard Things” Finale
ALX Nigeria is once again proving that when African talent meets the right opportunity, magic happens. In a celebration of innovation, grit, and ambition, ALX officially launched its 2025 Ventures Incubator Cohort, an elite group of startup founders handpicked from across the country, while simultaneously premiering the grand finale of the pan-African “Do Hard Things Challenge” at its Lagos hub.
From tech founders solving community challenges to creatives turning ideas into global solutions, ALX is backing the bold and building the infrastructure to help them scale. The ALX Ventures Incubator is the next big leap for graduates of the Founder Academy, providing them with hands-on mentorship, investor access, and the resources to grow sustainable businesses that shape the future of the continent.
“The launch of the ALX Ventures Incubator is proof of our unwavering commitment to building the infrastructure for African innovation to thrive,” said Ruby Igwe, Country General Manager at ALX Nigeria. “We witnessed incredible potential at our Founder Academy, and this next step ensures that these promising startups receive the support they need to grow into high-impact ventures. It’s about translating potential into lasting impact.”
These new ventures are powered by the same spirit that drove the Do Hard Things Challenge—a bold initiative that saw ALX travel to eight African cities in search of the continent’s most inspiring entrepreneurs. The final stop? Mauritius, where top finalists pitched in a high-stakes finale, now screened live for the Lagos tech and media community.
The challenge took ALX across Lagos, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Kigali, Accra, Cairo, Casablanca, and Addis Ababa, shining a spotlight on resilience, creativity, and unstoppable drive.
“The ‘Do Hard Things Challenge’ embodies the spirit we cultivate at ALX: resilience, ambition, and the courage to tackle complex problems,” said Joshua Ebinabo, ALX Ventures Country Entrepreneurship Development Manager.
“Showcasing the finale from Mauritius here in Lagos connects our local innovators to the broader African story. It inspires our learners, reassures parents about the future of tech, and shows business leaders the investment-ready talent right here in our ecosystem.”
The event brought together founders, business leaders, creators, and media influencers—all gathered to witness what happens when African talent is seen, celebrated, and supported. The energy was electric, the vision was bold, and the mission was clear: empower Africa’s brightest minds to build global solutions from right here on the continent.
Whether you’re a startup founder looking to scale or a dreamer looking for your big break, ALX continues to be the launchpad for Africa’s digital and entrepreneurial revolution.
Learn more about ALX’s tech and business programmes at alxafrica.ng, and follow the movement on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Instagram via @alxnigeria.
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