What is an IP address spoofing attack?

How does IP spoofing work?

When data travels on the Internet, it travels in units called packets. Every packet contains an IP header. IP headers contain information on the source and destination of the IP address.¹
When an attacker wants to get into another device, they will alter the source address of an outgoing packet. This way, the recipient device thinks it’s coming from a trusted source and accepts it. This type of attack allows hackers to hide their identities and circumvent firewalls. It can even help them hide their identity from law enforcement.²

Types of IP spoofing attacks

IP spoofing is performed in a variety of ways, with each type of attack serving different purposes.

DDoS attacks

DDoS stands for “distributed denial of service.” This type of attack aims to disrupt the traffic of a server or service by slowing it down or even causing it to crash. DDoS attacks create an Internet traffic jam, preventing people from getting to their intended destination.

In a DDoS attack, bots flood a website or service with traffic and HTTP requests. These attacks push out legitimate users or customers of the website or service as the server becomes overloaded with requests, destabilizing it.

For hackers, the goal of DDoS attacks is to disrupt a website for hours or even days. This type of attack doesn’t typically seek to steal information. However, they could lead to revenue loss, particularly on ecommerce sites. Cybercriminals may use this type of attack to extort the owner of the website into paying for the attack to stop.

MITM attacks

MITM (man-in-the-middle) attacks often involve IP spoofing. In a man-in-the-middle attack, the attacker inserts themselves as the “man in the middle” by intercepting the traffic between two devices. This form of eavesdropping allows hackers to listen in on a conversation they’re not supposed to be a part of. The hacker changes the packets so that both the recipient and original sender have no idea they’ve been altered. This allows the hacker to intercept data, which could contain sensitive information. MITM attacks help hackers commit identity fraud, obtain a victim’s login information, or steal a victim’s banking details.

Botnet attacks

Hackers can control a network of computers called botnets. Each of these computers has its own bot that can spread spam, malware, or launch DDoS attacks—in which case, hackers use IP spoofing to hide the origin of the botnets, which makes these kinds of attacks difficult to stop. Botnet attacks collect ransom money from the victim. For example, hackers may use a botnet attack to infect a website with malware, then request money from the owner of the website to cease the attack. This type of attack can also track and steal data from infected devices.

How to protect yourself from IP spoofing

Even though IP spoofing can be difficult to detect, there are a few ways to protect yourself or your organization from it.

Firewalls

Firewalls are an excellent security feature. Firewalls protect your computer or network from malicious third-party attacks. Firewalls also filter through incoming traffic, preventing unauthorized attackers and spoofed IP addresses from accessing your network.

Network monitoring

Closely monitoring network activity is essential to look out for suspicious activity. Even though IP spoofing can make network monitoring difficult, it’s better to uncover malicious activity sooner before it wreaks havoc.

Packet filtering

Packet filtering is a network security technique that examines IP packets and makes sure they are coming from legitimate, trusted sources.

Antivirus software

Using antivirus software is an important defense mechanism against spoofing attacks. Antivirus software will examine incoming traffic to prevent viruses or malware from entering your devices.

VPNs

VPNs offer greater online security by hiding your real IP address. When you use a VPN, your traffic is encrypted and invisible to third parties. Using a VPN makes it less likely that you’ll become the victim of a cyberattack.

IP spoofing can quickly steal your data or infect your devices. Now that you know more about IP spoofing, you can take the steps to protect yourself from it.