IPv6 Internet Protocol
IPv6 Internet Protocol supported by Microsoft

Latest reports from Arbor Networks, a DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) mitigation vendor, claims that iPv6 could be the next target of cyber criminals worldwide. Many network services are contemplating the idea of transition from iPv4 to iPv6 owing to lack of feature parity between the two network protocols.

The first IPv6 DDoS attack was recorded way back in 2011. However, the occurrence of such breaches has been rare as it holds no monetary value for cyber criminals, according to Bill Cerveny, a senior software quality assurance engineer at Arbor.

IPv 4 is on the verge of termination while the new generation networks are expected to embrace the IPv6 platform anytime soon. Hence the security concerns within are being taken seriously by security experts globally.

A handful of companies have already confirmed the projected increase in their IPv6 traffic by a minimum 100 per cent during the next one year. Unfortunately, IPv6 networks are still in the development pipeline and not as mature as its predecessor.

This particular fact is the major worry concerning IT companies and the corporate sector the world over. Besides, the lurking danger with network state information floating across the gateways that connect IPv4 to IPv6 services makes them more vulnerable to attacks.

Neal Quinn, vice-president of operations at DDoS mitigation vendor Prolexic, believes that the DDoS attacks are most likely tests performed by malware writers to check the security aspects of the new protocol. He further suggests that these cyber criminals want to be fully prepared by the time most internet companies permanently switch to IPv6.