Meetup.com Deals with First Extortion Attempt Ever

Meetup.com Deals with First Extortion Attempt Ever

  • By Ginger Hill
  • Mar 04, 2014

Have you heard about the strange email that the CEO of Meetup.com received on Thursday, February 27, 2014 at 10:26am? Apparently when Scott Heiferman opened his inbox he received the following message: “A competitor asked me to perform a DDoS attack on your website. I can stop the attack for $300 USD. Let me know if you are interested in my offer.” But, before reading the last word, meetup.com was swarmed with an 8.2 gigabit attack that almost sent the site to its demise, the company’s first attack in their 12-year history.Meetup.com Deals with First Extortion Attempt Ever

After taking approximately 24 hours to bring meetup.com back online on Friday, February 28, 2014, it went down again the next day, back up that night and down on again the following night. This up and down, roller coaster effect, is all the reason why companies should have an emergency response plan specifically for cyber-related events.

Experts are calling this attack a textbook example of a DDoS extortion attempt due to the ridiculously low amount of money demanded and the half-hearted reference to third-party attackers.

Left with this strange request for $300 bucks, meetup.com didn’t pay because they refuse to negotiate with criminals.

“You can’t negotiate with terrorists,” said Meetup.com CTO Gary Burns.

Besides, with extortion and such a low price, the $300 might just be a down payment, so meetup.com decided that a little down time was the way to go in this situation.

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

Featured

  • The Future of Access Control: Cloud-Based Solutions for Safer Workplaces

    Access controls have revolutionized the way we protect our people, assets and operations. Gone are the days of cumbersome keychains and the security liabilities they introduced, but it’s a mistake to think that their evolution has reached its peak. Read Now

  • A Look at AI

    Large language models (LLMs) have taken the world by storm. Within months of OpenAI launching its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, it amassed more than 100 million users, making it the fastest-growing consumer application in history. Read Now

  • First, Do No Harm: Responsibly Applying Artificial Intelligence

    It was 2022 when early LLMs (Large Language Models) brought the term “AI” into mainstream public consciousness and since then, we’ve seen security corporations and integrators attempt to develop their solutions and sales pitches around the biggest tech boom of the 21st century. However, not all “artificial intelligence” is equally suitable for security applications, and it’s essential for end users to remain vigilant in understanding how their solutions are utilizing AI. Read Now

  • Improve Incident Response With Intelligent Cloud Video Surveillance

    Video surveillance is a vital part of business security, helping institutions protect against everyday threats for increased employee, customer, and student safety. However, many outdated surveillance solutions lack the ability to offer immediate insights into critical incidents. This slows down investigations and limits how effectively teams can respond to situations, creating greater risks for the organization. Read Now

  • Security Today Announces 2025 CyberSecured Award Winners

    Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 CyberSecured Awards winners. Sixteen companies are being recognized this year for their network products and other cybersecurity initiatives that secure our world today. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.