News

This month, Quad9 will begin presenting the region’s top identified and blocked threats. In April 2023, we observed three areas where users were targeted with DDoS, crypto-miners, and banking trojans.

During March 2023, malvertising and potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) continued to be one of the most frequently identified and blocked threats. Observations of this threat type have become increasingly common in recent months.

While AI tools have the ability to enhance security measures and combat threats, they can also be misused by threat actors to accelerate the deployment of malicious tools and increase the frequency of attacks. However, AI can be used to predict, identify, and combat cybersecurity threats and it can also serve as a cybersecurity advisor for average internet users. Users should still take precautionary measures to protect their online privacy and security, including using cybersecurity-focused DNS resolvers like Quad9.

Last month, Quad9 observed a diverse array of threat categories. Among the many categories of threats blocked and analyzed, the top three were malvertising, DDoS, and banking trojans. The graphic below represents Quad9’s identified malware trends by threat category during February 2023 — all of which were blocked by Quad9.

Last month, Quad9 observed a diverse array of threat categories. Among the many categories of threats blocked and analyzed, the top three were malvertising, information stealing, and DDoS threats. The graphic below represents Quad9’s identified malware trends by threat category during January 2023 — all of which were blocked by Quad9.

DNS recursive resolvers play a crucial role in the functioning of the internet by translating domain names into IP addresses. However, they should not act as gatekeepers for content, which can be subjective and varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Users of Quad9 opt-in to our service and want the cyber protection that we enable for them. Blocking a domain for distributing malware is motivated by the desire to protect users from malicious or harmful content, such as viruses, phishing scams, or other threats. These types of protective DNS services blocking a domain for malware is a form of user opt-in filtering. The intention is to protect users from harm and does not necessarily involve restricting access to specific types of content.

Quad9 has been part of a potentially precedent-setting legal case involving Sony Music. On March 1st, 2023, the Leipzig Regional Court ruled in favor of Sony Music. This post presents a summary of the ruling as seen from the perspective of the Quad9 organisation.

A potentially precedent-setting legal case involving Sony Music and Quad9 may endanger internet freedom of speech and allow unchecked content censorship.

Quad9 stands firm in our commitment to Internet freedoms, safety, and privacy. Your continued support and donations are vital to our mission, especially as we find ourselves attacked by organizations attempting to use their power and wealth to try to force us into deciding who can and cannot access information on the internet.

Last month, Quad9 observed a diverse array of threat categories. Among the many categories of threats blocked and analyzed were DDoS, stalkerware, banking trojans, backdoor threats, remote access trojans (RATs), browser hijacking threats, and loader threats. The graphic below represents Quad9’s identified malware trends by threat category during December 2022 — all of which were blocked by Quad9.