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3 Benefits Of Adding An ATM To Your Business

Before you make the decision to purchase an ATM, you need to consider whether or not your business is a good fit for one. Does your business or any of the businesses near yours have cash only service? Have customers asked you where the nearest ATM is? Are there other ATMs nearby, or would yours be the only one within walking distance?

These are all questions you need to ask yourself before purchasing the machine. An ATM can be an excellent way to generate extra income and foot traffic, but not all businesses will benefit from owning one. If you have done your research and determined that an ATM would be a good fit for you, here are some benefits you will reap.

Generate Extra Foot Traffic

Once you purchase an ATM and have it installed in your business, you will begin to notice extra foot traffic. If the other businesses in the area know you own the machine, they will start to send customers your way whenever someone asks for an ATM. This can be especially true for businesses that only take cash payments, so make sure to canvas the area and let other businesses know about your new ATM. People who haven’t heard of or noticed your business before will now know that you exist and may become future customers.

Generate Extra Income

There are many ways that purchasing an ATM for your business can add extra income, and extra foot traffic is only one of these. ATMs also typically charge a fee, and these surcharges are income for you. Keep in mind, of course, that more people may use your ATM if the fee is lower. For example, if my nail salon has an ATM with a $3 fee, but I know that the liquor store up the street has an ATM with a $1 fee, I would rather walk the extra two blocks to save $2. However, if yours is the only machine in the area, you can charge more. Aside from these surcharges, you can also make extra income from customers who stop in to use your ATM and end up purchasing something while they’re there.

Reduced Credit Card Processing Fees

Another benefit of owning an ATM that you may not have thought of is a reduction in your credit card processing fees. These processing fees charged by credit card companies add up quickly and can end up costing businesses a lot of money annually. If you have an ATM inside your business, more people will use cash to pay. This means you’ll pay less in fees.

Overall, purchasing an ATM for your business is a pretty smart decision. There are many benefits that you will begin to see quickly, and you’ll be glad you made the investment.

 

Does the World Really Need Carbon Fiber Gravel Bikes?

Capitalism is a wonderful thing. Only in a capitalist environment can tons of people make a living selling something like carbon fiber gravel bikes. Speaking of carbon fiber gravel bikes, what’s up with that? Does the world really need them? Do not ask a cycling enthusiast unless you are prepared to hear a rather lengthy explanation about bike styles and construction materials.

No, the world does not really need carbon fiber gravel bikes. The world doesn’t even need carbon fiber or gravel bikes separately. But the beauty of capitalism is that both are available. That is a good thing. Carbon fiber makes for better bike frames while gravel bikes make for better riding on dirt and gravel roads. And that, dear friends, is why gravel bikes exist.

Not Your Father’s Schwinn

When this writer was growing up back in the 1970s, there were only three kinds of bikes. You had all-purpose Schwinn’s made for both sexes and all ages; you had expensive 10-speeds imported from France; and you had custom-built bikes put together by kids with lots of spare time and access to tons of junked parts. That was it.

We were happy with our bikes back then. Aluminum frames and banana seats were perfectly acceptable in my day. More importantly, anyone who owned a bike owned just one bike. We didn’t have different bikes for different purposes. But then the 1980s happened. Suddenly there were BMX and mountain bikes. They gave way to touring bikes and road bikes. And now we find ourselves discussing the strangest bike of all: the gravel bike.

The Gravel Bike Explained

A gravel bike is a bike that has been specifically designed to hold up to the wear and tear of dirt and gravel roads while simultaneously maximizing rider comfort. It starts with geometry. The head tube on a gravel bike is generally longer and with a more pronounced head angle. This improves steering. The top tube is angled in such a way as to improve stand-over height, mounting, and dismounting.

Underneath, gravel bikes generally feature disc brakes for more stopping power. Tires are bigger to account for rougher surfaces and, as a result, forks and frames have to be slightly larger to accommodate those tires.

There are more differences between gravel bikes and others, but the point here is that gravel bikes facilitate safer and more comfortable off-road riding. You would probably not think twice about taking a gravel bike on your next mountain ride – unless, of course, you were raised in the 1970s when a single bike was all that could be expected.

Carbon Fiber Makes Them Better

We cannot conclude this post without talking about the carbon fiber aspect. Today it is not enough just to have a gravel bike. It has to be a carbon fiber bike. They are actually fairly common according to Rock West Composites, a Salt Lake City company that provides numerous types of tubing for bike frame manufacturing.

Carbon fiber is a bike builder’s dream because it is strong and lightweight. It is also rather stiff, which is a plus when riders are going over tough terrain that requires optimal power transfer and efficiency. And because carbon fiber offers lateral stiffness without compromising vertical strength, you get a more comfortable ride.

No, the world doesn’t need carbon fiber gravel bikes. But it also doesn’t need televisions, mobile phones, sports equipment, and just about everything else that seems important to us today. Yet we have all these things and they are great. Thanks to carbon fiber, many of them are a better than ever before.

Signs That You Chose the Right Travel Accommodation

There are times when you feel like you chose the right accommodation option. You think the place is comfortable enough. However, there are also some instances when your chosen location doesn’t seem satisfying at all. Even if it is, you still think it’s not worth the amount you paid. These are the signs that you chose the best place to stay in.

It’s spacious

Travelling can be exhausting. You want to have accommodation that makes you comfortable. Having a spacious room allows you to feel comfortable. You understand that the chosen accommodation won’t be the same as what you have at home, but if it’s spacious, it feels close enough. Even if you chose a budget hotel room, you still need to consider how spacious it is.

It’s easy to access

When you choose accommodation during a trip, the place needs to be close to other places where you intend to visit. If it’s too far, you might not want to leave your room anymore. You can also stop by the place in the middle of the day when you feel exhausted, before you continue the trip.

You can’t hear too much noise

You don’t stay in your hotel all the time. You only go there at the end of your trip when you’re about to sleep. You have already travelled to several places by that point. The only thing you want to do is have a good rest. Therefore, a loud place won’t give you that level of comfort.

It’s worth the money

You already know what you’re getting based on how much you paid to book the place. However, there are instances when it feels like the room is way too expensive for its quality. It only feels right when the room is big enough and has all the amenities you’re looking for. Even if you’re renting a large house like the ones offered at thewowhousecompany.co.uk, and it costs a lot, you will still feel good about it. Imagine staying in a place that has a swimming pool, a jacuzzi, a library, and even a golf course. Even if you already spent a lot to book the place, you won’t regret it at all. You know that the site is way better than your home, and it will make you feel special. You might even have a trip where there’s nothing else on your list apart from enjoying everything such a place has to offer.

You want to stay there forever

When it feels like home as soon as you see it, and you want to stay there forever, you have found the perfect accommodation. If it doesn’t feel that way and you’re in a hurry to head home, it’s not the right place.

Not everyone has the same standards in choosing the perfect place for accommodation. Decide which things are important for any upcoming trips in the future.

Built muscles without a gym

Most of us desire a body like that of a hero in the movie sexy and strong. We have an idea about the effort and strict schedule that goes in the making of a body. Those with no diversions like studies or work can devote a lot of time to their bodies. We are pressed for time. Commonly not many of us enough time and money for the gym. The presence of others around makes some uncomfortable. The good news is that the body can be built without a gym at home. All you need is to stay motivated, consider your medical issues, eat right no extra calories and keep up with a schedule of meals and exercise.

Make it a point to be knowledgeable about the type of exercises you can do at home. What are details that must keep in mind before and during the exercise regime? The time frame according to the age of the exercise routine? Do not begin the work out without proper information. Home-based exercises can be done when on tour or holidaying. The aim is to build muscles and body in a systematic way. These exercises are alternative to the traditional gym. Train yourself after getting knowledge from the internet, coach or from other bodybuilders.

The newcomers in this field have a body that has lived for so long without exercise. The freedom of movement is limited. Muscles have been inactive and posture sustenance with come with practice. The exercise involves all kinds of postures. The body’s pliability comes with regular work out. It will take a few weeks and small exercises to slowly improve the posture. It is important the way you stand, sit, and walk. Begin with stretching routine or warm-up prior to exercises correctly. Warm-up exercises are as simple as light rope skipping for a minute, high knee running on the spot etc. All the exercises are done at home without equipment.

At the onset perform three times a week. A day of rest in between the exercises. Initially, each exercise will involve 30 seconds of the workout. This is followed by 30 seconds of rest and then the next exercise. Repeat the exercises in this fashion 5 times. You can do triceps dips exercise, twist crunches, squats, running, and walking. Remember to build muscles without weights regularly confront the muscles by undertaking increasingly hard-to-do exercises. To gain muscle mass is difficult. Push-ups is a body muscle-built exercise for parts like chest, shoulder and triceps muscles. Be committed to the schedule long enough to see results.

You can purchase rubber gym mats for your workout exercises. These mats are convenient, safe and make the exercise area appear appealing. The mats can be individual ones for stand-alone regions. These can be jointed and spread for heavy equipment. There are interlocking mats which are easy to assemble. These mats are eco-friendly, anti-skid, cushion underfoot easy to clean with choice of colours and patterns; the cost is affordable. The sellers give an attractive discount and the deal is lucrative. These can be bought through the internet.

Also Read: Gym Motivational Quotes

 

How to Plan Your Accommodation in Prime Locations in Delhi?

You should always ensure that you are picking the right accommodation for your needs when it comes to staying in Delhi. There are so many great places that you can book, including those from FNP Gardens like Udman Hotel. Here are a few of the top tips that will help you with all of your accommodations for some of the best locations in the city of Delhi that will make your trip easier.

Tips for Picking the Right Accommodation

Sometimes finding the right accommodation can seem daunting, but you can make sure that it is done easily and quickly. You just need to know some of the main tips that will help you to find the perfect hotel to book, including:

  • Location – You are going to want to ensure that you can find a hotel that is situated at the right location. You should consider where you are going to want to travel to the city and where you are going to need to head and how easily you can have access to public transportation. You would also need to think about if you can get a taxi or other vehicles early in the morning or if it can be arranged by the hotel.
  • Facilities – Also, ensure that you are considering what the facilities are that the hotel would have. There are plenty that you can enjoy at Udman Hotel, including the spa, terrace garden, swimming pool, restaurants and much more. If you know what facilities you are looking for, then you can make it easier when it comes to deciding on where you want to stay and what you want to enjoy.
  • Availability – You would also need to make sure that the hotel that you are picking from FNP Gardens would have a room available for the times that you need it. Go ahead and give them a call to see if they have what you need when you would need it, so that you can book there or find another location that would have your option ready.
  • Price – Another thing that you are going to want to consider when it comes to where you are going to stay is the price. Think about what you want to spend and then pick the right location that would fit with all of your other needs, including the available facilities, location and much more.

Ensure that you are thinking about all of this when you are looking at booking your hotel that would suit your next trip.

There are so many hotels these days that you can book, but some of the best ones are owned by FNP Gardens. Udman Hotel is one of the top ones and it has a great location and it also has some of the best facilities that you would be able to avail during your stay. Make sure that you are calling them now to find out if they have an opening for the times that you need it and the price that you would have to pay to stay there.

 

Taking A Look At The Top Gardening Products On The Market In 2019

2019 was a big year for gardening tools which surpassed the 74 billion dollars of revenue tools generated globally in 2015. With gardening becoming an increasingly popular hobby among homeowners, more people than ever are interested in gifting and acquiring top gardening products.

But which products should gardeners be focused on when putting together their arsenal?

While there is a virtually unlimited amount of tools out there that can help you take your gardening game to the next level, we think that you should start by acquiring the helpful products below.

1. Gardening Gloves

No gardener worth their salt does anything in their yard without a great pair of gardening gloves. Not only do gardening gloves keep your hands and nails from getting caked with dirt but they also protect you from getting pricked when dealing with sharp foliage.

Gardening gloves are crafted from a lot of different materials. Our personal favorite is leather since they look great, flex well and clean easily.

2. Kneeling Stool

If you have back problems, having a stool that you can kneel on while working in your garden is going to be a life-saver. If you don’t have back problems, you’ll want to invest in a kneeling stool to avoid developing them down the line.

In addition to making bending over in your garden a breeze, the best kneeling stools have tool pouches at their sides which makes accessing whatever it is you’re working with streamlined.

3. Reusable Plant Labels

It can be impossible to identify what’s growing in a big garden. That’s particularly true when plants haven’t sprouted yet.

To stay organized, investing in reusable plant labels is a must.

High-quality reusable planet labels are made of graphite and can be written on in chalk which makes labeling and re-labeling areas of your garden simple. If you reside in an area where rain might wash the chalk away, you can use an online label printing service to create labels that are more resistant to moisture.

4. Pruning Shears

Any experienced gardener will tell you that one of the keys to growing healthy foliage is ensuring that you make a habit of pruning. For the uninitiated, pruning is the act of cutting excess branches from plants so more vital branches can get additional nutrients and grow stronger.

A good set of pruning shears will set you back less than $20.00 and should be able to easily cut through thick branches. Since pruning shears will be among the sharpest tools in your arsenal, you may want to invest in a shear holster.

5. Leaf Scoops

Leaves can wreak havoc on your garden. Leaf scoops aim to streamline the process of getting rid of light to moderate amounts of leaves with their trash-lid like design that enables gardeners to quickly scoop and dispose of.

Leaf scoops are 100 percent plastic so you can expect this top gardening product pick to be cheaper than rakes.

Any One of These Top Gardening Products Can Revolutionize Your Yard

Investing in top gardening products can have a profound effect on your outdoor space and the amount of time you spend toiling with gardening tasks. We hope that our product suggestions help cultivate your love for working with foliage and welcome you to browse more of our home content for additional tips and tricks!

How to Have a Clutter-Free Home Office

Maybe you have retired, or you are starting a small business. Whatever the reason, you may be one of the many people who are opting to work from home instead of enduring a grueling commute or the day-to-day hassle that often occurs in an office.

So now you are maintaining an office at home. And because you are at home, there is a risk of your office attracting clutter if you are not careful. If you have children, you may find them leaving books, toys, crayons, half-eaten snacks, and other stuff on your desk. You may realize that there are several cups and saucers, mugs, and water glasses on your office desk, as well.

If you continuously shuffle items on your desk to find the document that you need, you are due to declutter your home office. Here are some of the things you can do.

Clean your home office daily. Cultivating this habit is a good idea. Unlike in a regular office setting where cleaners can dust your desk and maybe organize the things on your desk, so it looks neater, you do the dusting and organizing of your home office. It should look like a regular workstation, especially if you meet clients at home.

Remove household and personal items. Keep in mind that your worktable should not be an extension of your kitchen or dining table. Remove all things that are not related to your work, to retain a corporate feel. Keep small appliances, sports equipment, books, toys, shoes, clothing, and exercise gear away from office space. Be sure to check your filing cabinets and drawers where some unwanted items might have been stored.

Determine where your office equipment and supplies should go. Take a good look at your workstation and the area surrounding it. Identify the areas where you can position office equipment for easy access. Relocate items on your desk, office supplies, and storage cabinets, depending on how often you need them. Use organizer trays to separate documents you need to send out, file, or shred.

Declutter your worktable. You need space to work efficiently. Remove non-essential things taking up residence on your office desk such as personal mail, file folders, magazines, and newspapers. Return the file folders to your filing cabinet and put the old magazines and newspapers in a trash box for disposal later. Shred mail that has identifiable information. The only things you should have on top of your desk are your laptop/desktop, pens, note pads, desk lamp, and possibly a phone.

Your home office is part of your entire house. It needs special attention because it is your workstation where you may be entertaining colleagues and clients. It should be presentable and professional looking. You cannot afford to have unwanted items cluttering your work area and immediate surroundings.

Ensure that you dispose of your trash and junk properly. Contact a professional Miami junk removal company to remove and dispose of your unwanted items efficiently.

Image: https://pixabay.com/photos/office-shelf-desk-interior-design-332211/

 

Here Are 5 Essentials to Consider When Choosing a Water Chiller

A water chiller is a special refrigerator that’s used to cool large machines or equipment. As these devices heat up, a water chiller takes the heat exchange and transfers that energy into a refrigerant in a closed loop system. The wasted heat can then be transferred into the atmosphere from a special waste outlet.

Water chillers have many uses in the commercial sector. They’re more commonly found in medical, metal finishing, plastics processing, and food processing industries. Getting the right water chiller is so important! Here’s what you need to know to get it right.

1. Size It Right

Getting the right size chiller is essential for a smooth and efficient operation. You need the chiller to do its job without overheating or quickly wearing out the motor. Additionally, you don’t want it to raise your utility bills so you can keep your overhead low.

Cold Shot Chillers recommends using a formula to help you figure out the size. It involves the temperature differential, BTU/hr, and tons of cooling capacity. You can find that simple formula here.

2. Know Your Heat Load

You’ll need to know the heat load in order to calculate the sizing for your water chiller. This number will be among the most important things to identify before making your purchase because it will ensure that you get the proper coolant to cover it.

You should be able to find information about the heat load of a product in the manual or on an information decal on the machinery. If there’s nothing to tell you the heat load, you’ll have to use a physics calculation: Heat Load = Flow Rate x Fluid Density x Fluid Specific Heat x Constant x deltaT.

3. Understand the Environment

The heat load of the machinery is the most crucial piece you’ll need, but don’t forget that the environment where the machinery operates also plays a factor.

For example, if you’re using a chiller to cool machinery in a metal processing plant in Phoenix, AZ where temperatures often climb above 100 degrees, your chiller will need a higher capacity to compensate for the additional heat.

4. Find a Good Supplier

The company that manufactures, sells, and/or services your chillers is also very important. Ideally, you’ll find a company that carries both standard models and the option to build a customized unit.

The company should come highly recommended and model excellent customer service in everything they do. You should trust them to offer only the highest standard of care.

5. Stay in Budget

Recognize that chillers will be an expensive piece of equipment. That being said, you don’t always have to purchase the most expensive brand to get the best result. Set your budget realistically, but don’t be afraid to shop around and consider all your options before settling on the perfect chiller for your needs.

 

5 Factors to Consider When Renting a Photo and Video Studio

If you have an eye for beauty and can do wonders with a scene most people would deem ordinary, then photography is an excellent career path for you. However, starting in this field can be a bit challenging, especially if you don’t have a complete arsenal of equipment and the necessary resources to produce top-quality pictures.

Fortunately, you can now get access to top-of-the-line lighting equipment and picturesque backgrounds within a weather-proofed space with the help of photo and video studio rentals.

As the name suggests, these companies offer photography and videography professionals a place to shoot excellent pictures and films in for a fraction of what it would usually cost to having their own studio.

To make the most out of what you pay for, you must look for studio rentals that fit not only your budget but also your specific needs. To get started, consider these five factors that you need to consider in finding the right video and photography studio to rent successfully:

What You Need

Necessity is not only the mother of all invention, but it is also a crucial consideration when it comes to seeking a studio rental for photoshoots.

Since not all studios are alike, you’ll have to narrow down your options and focus on establishments that can give you what you need. And the first step to making this happen is listing down the items that you will require for your photo or video shoot.

For example, if you show up with just your camera in tow, you might need a studio that has everything else. In case you like using strobes, you might need to look for a studio that has a dry space with a couple of different backdrops.

If you’re just starting in photography and have no idea what you’ll need in a photoshoot, below are some of the essential offerings you should look for in a studio rental:

Backdrops

The background can make a big difference in photographs as it separates the mediocre from stellar, awe-inspiring images. This reason alone is enough for you to look for a photo studio that offers a variety of high-quality backdrops you can choose from and could match the theme of the shoot.

Lighting

A full setup of a professional photography studio often has more lights than people within the space. This is because proper lighting is crucial in conducting a professional-grade photoshoot.

If you’re new in the trade, you might find it overwhelming to find the right set of lighting equipment for your photoshoot, especially considering the number of options you need to choose from. You’ll need just about anything: from overhead lights and umbrella lights to rim lights and light disks. The key is to think long and hard about the type of photography you want to focus on.

On the technical side, you can also factor in the color of your output (tungsten or fluorescent), the direction needed (sidelight, under, overhead, or circular light), the quality (continuous or flash-type), and the quantity of light you need.

Tripod

Camera tripods are a photographer’s best friend. Aside from stabilizing the camera for a clear photograph, these stands also serve as an extension of your hand. They also have been proven to be useful for taking pictures that require photographers to squeeze in narrow, tall, or awkward spaces.

While you can always buy your own later, you can rely on photo studio rentals to have tripods ready for your photoshoot when you’re just starting out in photography.

Of course, you would have to identify the specific type of stand that you’ll need. Remember that this type of equipment can come in a variety of weights, sizes, and even materials – each having its own advantages. Do some research on what will suit your needs best.

Price

Photo studios offer many different types of packages. Some offer eight-hour and four-hour packages. Photoshoot studio rentals can be booked by the hour as well.

When choosing, make sure to consider the total package rate. Also, think long and hard about your requirements and determine whether you can get the most value for your money. Don’t choose a studio just because the price is low — factor in cost efficiency, too.

Studio Size

Another consideration you must think about before hiring a photo studio is its size. Again, this should be based on what type of photography you’ll be doing.

For instance, if you’ll only be taking portraits and headshots for modeling portfolios, you don’t need to rent a big studio. However, if you’re doing a group picture or have a crew of five or more coming with you, you might want to consider a wider space.

Accessibility

Although this doesn’t affect the quality of pictures you can produce, the accessibility of a photo studio is also a crucial factor you must consider, especially if you’re working with models or clients.

This is because there are instances when teen models might only be able to get to you via public transportation. If this is the case, choosing a studio with good transport links is an excellent decision.

Also, consider whether the location for the shoot is easy to find. You wouldn’t want clients complaining about going through a maze of unnamed streets and roads before finally reaching the photo studio. This will help you save time as well.

Trade Experience

Aside from your own experience, it would also be wise to rent a photo and video studio that offers more than just space and equipment for the shoot. You must also look for one that is owned by people with experience in the trade.

Remember that a studio proprietor can have a wealth of knowledge under their belt since they’ve seen virtually everything. Who knows? You might even get to learn from them, especially things like the effective use of lights and other trade-related tips and tricks.

Quick Roundup

Renting a space for a photoshoot can make or break your project. Whether you’re a professional or a newbie in the trade, make sure you look at all the options available. Don’t forget to factor in these major considerations for a hassle-free photoshoot experience using this article as a guide.

AUTHOR BIO

Adam Jacobs is the owner of Windsor Photo Studios in Melbourne, Australia and Managing Director of Bubblegum Casting, the country’s longest operating modelling, talent and casting agency for babies, children and teens. Adam is a creative digital marketer focused on growing companies’ online presence and performance using both tried and true as well as cutting-edge growth marketing and growth hacking tactics.

Abusing macOS to Perform DDoS Attacks is Only in Its Early Stages

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are a rapidly growing threat in the modern Internet. As organizations have become more reliant on the Internet for daily business, the potential impacts of losing their web presence have grown. At the same time, the complexity and cost of performing a DDoS attack has decreased dramatically. As a result, hackers can afford to launch attacks against more targets and to sell their services to interested customers.

A new discovery by DDoS attackers has significantly increased the potential impacts of their attacks. A service included in macOS enables an attacker to dramatically increase the volume of the attack that they can create. As a result, organizations are more vulnerable to large-scale DDoS attacks, and the need to deploy anti DDoS protection solutions to protect crucial Internet-facing resources from attack has grown even more pressing.

DDoS Attacks and DDoS Amplification

The Distributed in DDoS refers to the fact that a DDoS attacker uses several different machines when performing an attack against their target. A DoS attack requires overwhelming the target machine in some way. Exceeding their network bandwidth or number of allowable connections on a machine are some of the simplest ways to do this. By using multiple attacking machines, the DDoS attacker ensures that they have the ability to create the volume of traffic necessary to overwhelm their target, which may have multiple load-balanced machines or other defenses in place.

Massive DDoS attacks have become easier to perform in recent years due to the changing landscape of the Internet. In the past, the Internet was primarily composed of personal workstations and servers, which could be co-opted into a botnet to be used in an attack but also often were protected with cybersecurity defenses.

The modern Internet is increasingly composed of Internet-connected devices like thermostats and light bulbs, which have the processing power and network connections necessary to participate in DDoS attacks but don’t enjoy the same level of cybersecurity protection and often contain significant and easily-exploitable vulnerabilities. The combination of easily exploitable Internet of Things (IoT) devices and cheap cloud computing makes large-scale DDoS attacks cheaper and easier to perform, with prices below $7 per hour.

To make things worse, DDoS attackers are finding services that can be used as a DDoS amplifier. A DDoS amplifier allows the attacker to spoof the source address of traffic to it, so that the attacker can send a message and have a response sent to the victim. An effective DDoS amplifier has responses that are significantly larger than requests, so that the attacker can ensure that the victim receives more traffic than the attacker sends.

An example of a commonly used DDoS amplifier is the DNS protocol, which translates domain names (like google.com) into IP addresses (like 127.0.0.1). Since a DNS response includes all of the data included in the request plus the actual answer, sending a DNS request while masquerading as someone else ensures that the victim receives and must process more data than the attacker sends.

macOS and DDoS

The search for effective DDoS amplifiers has led attackers to look in a variety of different places. One of these is the macOS operating system.

Most operating systems have a remote desktop service. On Apple machines it is called the Apple Remote Desktop (ARD). Machines running macOS and with ARD running are also running a service called the Apple Remote Management Service (ARMS). ARMS runs on port 3283 and listens for incoming commands that it should execute on the machine. ARMS is of interest to DDoS attackers since it is a potentially huge DDoS amplifier. Most services used for DDoS attacks have an amplification factor of 5-10, meaning that they can increase the volume of traffic up to 5-10x. ARMS’s amplification factor is 35.5, significantly larger than that of services commonly used in other attacks.

The massive potential of ARMS for DDoS has been noticed and exploited by attackers. In order to use ARMS in an attack, the ARMS service must be accessible to the Internet. Searches on Shodan, a search engine for finding machines with certain ports open, have shown that almost 40,000 macOS systems are exposing ARMS to the Internet. Early attacks exploiting this functionality have reached peak traffic levels of 70 Gbps.

Protecting Against DDoS Attacks

The amplification factor of the ARMS protocol and the number of machines that can be employed in attacks make it a significant threat to the functionality and accessibility of any organization’s web-facing systems. Exploitation of this protocol is only in its early stages and may become more common over time, increasing the number and size of DDoS attacks.

One step that owners of macOS systems can take to help protect against this threat is to ensure that their computers cannot be used in attacks. Any machine with a remote desktop service open should either be behind a firewall or should be using a VPN or IP whitelisting to limit access to authorized users.

However, organizations cannot rely on owners of the exploitable machines to fix the problem. While the threat of macOS-enabled DDoS ones is a significant one, it is not the only way that an attacker can increase the power of DDoS attacks. In the modern threat landscape, deploying an effective DDoS protection solution is a fundamental step in protecting an organization’s Internet presence.

 

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