A botnet, short for “robot network,” is a network of compromised computers, often referred to as “” or “,” that are under the control of a single entity, the . These compromised computers are typically infected with malicious software, known as , which allows the botmaster to control them remotely.
Botnets are frequently used to launch attacks, overwhelming a target’s servers or network infrastructure with a flood of traffic, rendering it unavailable to users. In a botnet-powered DDoS attack, a network of compromised computers floods a target with overwhelming traffic to disrupt its services. The infected computers, or bots, follow the commands of the botmaster to execute various types of attacks, such as , protocol-based, or layer attacks.
Botnets also use compromised computers to send out large volumes of emails. The botmaster controls these infected computers, issuing commands for email content and distribution. Spam emails often contain attempts or malware and techniques like email spoofing make it challenging to filter out malicious emails. Furthermore, botnets are controlled by a central entity that infects computers and uses techniques like to steal usernames and passwords.
This stolen data is then sent to a central server, where it may be sold or used for unauthorized access and financial gain. Additionally, botnets can be exploited for click fraud, generating automated clicks on online advertisements to inflate ad revenue at the expense of advertisers. Botnets also provide services, allowing malicious actors to anonymize their online activities while complicating efforts to trace and block these services effectively.
