Botnet

What Is Botnet?

The term Botnet actually consists of two components - bot and net, which stands for a network (net) of computers (bots) infected by malware.

Using a botnet, criminals will take control of these bots and perform various malicious tasks, including sending spam, stealing private data, installing ransomware, and performing Distributed Denial-of-Service(DDoS) attacks, without the knowledge of the computer owners.

The Main Features of Botnet

Infectious

Infected computers become bots within a botnet, which can further spread the infection and enlarge the network, making botnets rapidly proliferative.

Large Scale

Being infectious, botnets contain hundreds to millions of bots on average. Malicious activity on this scale can have very serious consequences in a matter of moments.

Stealth

Hackers control botnets by issuing commands from a central server, which can covertly direct infected computers to launch attacks, making detection and cleaning challenging.

Multifunctionality

Botnets can be used for a variety of malicious purposes, including malicious attacks, mining cryptocurrencies, facilitating fraud, and more.

Common Botnet Attacks

Email Spam

Although email is obsolete in current times, spam-type botnets are still one of the largest malicious attacks. Hackers take control of bots to send out massive amounts of spam with malware and take the opportunity to infect more computers to join the botnet simultaneously.

DDoS Attacks

Using a large number of bots to saturate and overload a target network or server, makes it impossible for its customers to access and use resources. This type of botnet attack usually targets organizations or companies to extort money or for political purposes.

Data Stealing

Using bots to steal sensitive information from device owners, including account passwords, financial data, chat history, and more. Some botnets are specifically designed to steal corporate funds and financial info, thereby stealing large amounts of money.