Security Researchers Identify Surge in Brute-Force Attacks from Middle East Targeting Edge Devices
Security researchers have reported a significant increase in brute-force attacks targeting SonicWall and Fortinet devices, with 88% of these attempts originating from the Middle East. These attacks are primarily aimed at hijacking edge devices such as VPNs and firewall appliances, which are internet-facing and provide access to corporate networks. Barracuda, a cybersecurity firm, noted that over half of the confirmed incidents from February to March were related to this type of attack. Although many attempts were blocked or directed at invalid usernames, the persistent probing raises concerns about potential compromises due to weak passwords or misconfigurations. The timing of these attacks coincides with heightened tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran, suggesting a possible link to state-backed efforts. Barracuda's senior cybersecurity analyst, Laila Mubashar, emphasized the importance of enforcing strong passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, and monitoring failed login attempts to mitigat... 
