Файл:Denial-of-service attack.gifAuthorities believe the Miami Dade school district experienced a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack (see illustration). Designed to overwhelm the bandwidth of the targeted system. There are two types of DoS attacks: One is designed to crash services and the other is designed to flood services. The most serious attack is distributed.[1]
On 3 September 2020, at 2:53 am EDT, a 16-year-old male from South Miami, Florida was arrested in connection with distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks on the Miami-Dade County Public Schools's computer network, the fourth largest in the US,[2] causing the system to crash during the first three days of the school year. It occurred as the school system was attempting to conduct internet-based instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020.
After monitoring the IP addresses using the network, investigators concluded the teenager and several foreign actors had hacked the system.[3] At the time, the school district had contracted Stride, Inc. (at the time known as K12 Inc.) to provide the software necessary for the internet-based instruction. Despite its price tag of $15.3 million, Stride was surprisingly susceptible to the attacks. Consequently, the school district sought the help of the FBI and U.S. Secret Service to investigate.[4]
According to an affidavit, the suspect used Low Orbit Ion Cannon (LOIC) to launch the attacks. LOIC is an application that uses DDoS-style attacks to disrupt websites. However, investigators say the teen was not the only hacker involved. Numerous other IP addresses were associated with the attacks originating from Russia, the Ukraine, China, Iraq, and other countries. Investigators said the suspect was responsible for eight of at least 24 attacks.[3]
After the accused admitted to his involvement, he was charged with the crime of using a computer to defraud, a third-degree felony.[2]
