What is a Botnet?
A botnet is a network of infected computers which can be used to perform various tasks. These bots are usually controlled by a single command and control (C&C) server.
The main objective of a botnet is to infect as many devices as possible. This allows the bot herder to carry out his or her operations quickly. A bot herder can also rent a part of the botnet for a lucrative financial gain.
The botmaster can use the infected device for a variety of activities, including DDoS attacks, spam emails, and crypto mining. A bot herder can also use the botnet for monitoring user activity, gathering keystrokes, and stealing online credentials.
The botnet can be made up of hundreds or even thousands of infected machines. The infected devices can be a personal computer, smartphone, IoT device, or other type of device. In the past, tablets and network routers have been targeted.
The originator of a botnet is a “bot herder”. This person is responsible for controlling the botnet, which is generally done remotely.
In a client/server model, a bot herder connects to a C&C server and gives commands to the infected devices. The infected devices then wait for the instructions to be sent by the C&C server.
A peer-to-peer (P2P) botnet is a newer form of botnet, which does not need a centralized server. In this model, infected devices scan the web for malicious sites and share the latest malware with other infected devices. This approach is more resilient than the traditional centralized C&C model.