It could be to cause a failure in an ancillary github service that results in opening up a new attack vector which could then allow the attackers to steal code from private repos.
maybe some hackers who believes git repos should be, well, distributed?
So maybe they can build a distributed system themselves instead of making a point the f*c%s everyone while they have their childish tantrum. This is like nuking a city because you don't like the mayor.
Could be an extortion scheme.
blackmailing ? "if you dont pay we'll DDOS you" or whatever. Given all these infected Windows computers all over the world ,it's not going to stop soon. That's the Microsoft legacy.
Am I crazy in thinking that there's zero chance Github would pay a "ransom"? Seems like they'd just work with their vendors/providers and mitigate it to avoid setting that precedent (making them even more vulnerable to future attempts).
The attacker's bet is that they can apply pressure beyond the victim's ability to mitigate. If they win that bet, the victim may reach a point where paying out is preferable to the lost business they'd suffer because of the attack.
It'll only get worse in April when XP goes off life support.
It's Microsoft's legacy to have their customers' computers infected with a virus to operate as a giant botnet?