Botnets
What is a Botnet?
A botnet is a network of computers or other Internet-enabled devices that have been infected with malware. These compromised devices—often referred to as “bots” or “zombies”—are connected to each other and can be controlled remotely without their owners noticing.
The malware attempts to infect as many devices as possible. A botnet can consist of hundreds to millions of devices. These huge networks are used by cybercriminals to carry out targeted attacks, for example:
- the mass sending of spam or phishing emails
- the spread of malware
- or DDoS attacks, in which servers are deliberately overloaded.
The insidious thing about this is that your device could be part of such a network—and thus actively involved in cybercrime—without you even noticing.
How does a device become part of a botnet?
This is a good example of a phishing email that brings users into a botnet. By clicking on the link, the device enters the hacker’s botnet.
Infect with malware
The hacker infects your device with malware via a phishing email without you noticing. Since the attacker tries to make the botnet as large as possible, devices that are already infected are used to infect other devices.
Connect to the botnet
After a successful phishing attack, your device is automatically connected to a control server controlled by a hacker.
Control and dissemination
Now that your device can be controlled by the botmaster via a control server, your device is automatically part of a botnet. The botnet can be used for a DDOS attack or to forward malware.
How can I protect myself from a botnet?
- Keep your operating system and firmware up to date.
- Keep your login details secure and confidential.
- Use secure networks.
- Recognize phishing emails.
