What is a Botnet?
Using a botnet is a dangerous way to attack a computer or other internet-connected device. The malware is installed on the device and then used to perform DDoS attacks, spam emails, or even crypto mining. Depending on the type of malware, it may be capable of stealing data from the victim’s computer.
Botnets are typically created for the purpose of stealing sensitive data. This is often done by injecting a Trojan horse virus. The malware then connects the infected device to a central botnet server. It then sends information to other bots lower on the hierarchy.
Cyber criminals can use the information to carry out cyber attacks, steal data, or even crash the target network. They can also sell access to botnets to other threat actors.
Cyber criminals can also use bots to engage in click fraud campaigns. They can also create bots for chat room management, and even track point scores in online games. These bots can be programmed to respond to a wide range of language types in chat rooms, ensuring that people who break chatroom policies are eliminated.
Cyber criminals can also use bots in order to automate large-scale attacks. In some cases, the malware connects all the infected devices to a single server, which then sends commands to them. This approach is called peer-to-peer (P2P) and is harder to detect than a centralized system.
Botnets are often created to earn money. A botmaster can control the network, which allows the owner to spy on targeted devices, read data, or even perform crypto mining.