Better than simple IP blacklist Cloud security company Zscaler is offering a web tool businesses can use to check whether their IP address is being used for spamming or DDoS attacks.IPAbuseCheck offers a simple lookup which checks an IP address against Zscaler’s database of 20,000 addresses detected by the company as having been used for abuse since the company started recording such attacks in July.The service has some obvious limitations starting with the fact that it is only Zscaler’s database of abusive IPs that addresses will be checked against; the database is only a few months old but its usefulness should increase with time. The company also admits there could be some false positives.However, an advantage is that is that unlike some IP blacklists it can more reliably record the real IP address of the abusive PC or server before the traffic is hidden behind a proxy. Sometimes this can catch surprising victims that have had their own servers hijacked to act as open proxies. “A server within one of Microsoft’s “MICROSOFT-DYNAMIC-HOSTING” netblock’s was attempting numerous abusive web transactions through our proxies,” said Zscaler’s senior security manager, Mike Geide “These abusive transactions were brute-force login attempts against file sharing sites like Rapidshare, Megaupload, and Hotfile.”The ulterior motive for IPAbuseCheck is to promote Zscaler’s own cloud-based proxy service that the company promotes as being useful to anyone to impose security policies on that traffic. Related content news Chinese state actors behind espionage attacks on Southeast Asian government The distinct groups of activities formed three different clusters, each attributed to a specific APT group. By Shweta Sharma Sep 25, 2023 4 mins Advanced Persistent Threats Advanced Persistent Threats Cyberattacks feature How to pick the best endpoint detection and response solution EDR software has emerged as one of the preeminent tools in the CISO’s arsenal. Here’s what to look for and what to avoid when choosing EDR software. By Linda Rosencrance Sep 25, 2023 10 mins Intrusion Detection Software Security Monitoring Software Data and Information Security feature Top cybersecurity M&A deals for 2023 Fears of recession, rising interest rates, mass tech layoffs, and conservative spending trends are likely to make dealmakers cautious, but an ever-increasing need to defend against bigger and faster attacks will likely keep M&A activity steady in By CSO Staff Sep 22, 2023 24 mins Mergers and Acquisitions Data and Information Security IT Leadership brandpost Unmasking ransomware threat clusters: Why it matters to defenders Similar patterns of behavior among ransomware treat groups can help security teams better understand and prepare for attacks By Joan Goodchild Sep 21, 2023 3 mins Cybercrime Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe