#### Introduction
BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) hijacking, also known as prefix hijacking, route hijacking, or IP hijacking, is the illegal hijacking of groups of IP addresses by corrupting Internet routing tables. This type of attack can lead to significant network disruptions and data loss, especially in the context of cryptocurrency transactions. In this article, we will look at the nature of BGP hijacking, its consequences, and offer recommendations for protecting against such attacks.
#### The Nature of BGP Interception
BGP is the primary protocol used to exchange routing information between autonomous systems (AS) on the Internet. A BGP hijacking attack occurs when an attacker advertises false routes, causing traffic to be routed through a network they control. This allows an attacker to intercept, modify, or block data.
#### Examples of Attacks
1. Bitcoin Hacking: Routing Attacks on Cryptocurrencies
A study presented at IEEE ( https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7958588 ) describes how BGP hijacking attacks can be used to redirect cryptocurrency transaction traffic. Attackers can intercept transactions, modify them, or even steal funds.
2. KlaySwap Incident
In a recent incident described on Medium ( https://medium.com/s2wblog/post-mortem-of-klayswap-incident-through-bgp-hijacking-898f26727d66), users of the KlaySwap cryptocurrency platform lost funds due to for BGP hijacking attacks. The attackers were able to redirect traffic, which led to a leak of funds.
#### Defense Recommendations
1. Increasing the Number of Nodes in Different Regions
One way to reduce the risk of BGP hijacking is to increase the number of nodes in different regions. This will make it more difficult for attackers to control traffic routing and increase network resilience.
2. Using RPKI (Resource Public Key Infrastructure)
RPKI allows you to verify the authenticity of route advertisements, which helps prevent false route advertisements.
3. Monitoring and Auditing Routing
Regular monitoring and auditing of routing tables can help identify suspicious changes and quickly respond to potential attacks.
4. Training and Awareness Raising
employee training and awareness of the risks of BGP interception can help in timely detection and prevention of attacks.
#### Conclusion
BGP hijacking poses a serious threat to network and data security. Increasing the number of nodes in different regions, using RPKI, monitoring routing and training employees are key measures to protect against such attacks. It is important to continue to research and develop security techniques to counter the ever-evolving threats in cyberspace.