BotNet News

A Botnet is a cluster of devices that have been infected by malware. This enables hackers to control these devices and launch a string of attacks, usually aimed at disrupting a target’s network or stealing credentials.

The size of a botnet is often determined by how many malware-infected devices are under the control of a single threat actor (known as a bot herder). Bot herders typically infect devices using vulnerabilities in firmware, websites or applications.

Bot herders can then use their botnets to perform a wide variety of illegal activities. These include delivering spam emails, exploiting vulnerabilities, data theft, stealing credentials or executing CPU-intensive tasks on computers connected to the Internet.

Unlike traditional cyberattacks, which can be conducted from individual compromised machines, botnets are often launched from a central command and control (C&C) server operated by the bot herder. In this way, a threat actor can perform large-scale attacks without investing significant time or money.

Infected devices may be personal computers, servers, mobile devices or Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Typical botnet sizes range from hundreds of thousands to millions of devices.

How do you protect your devices against botnets?

The best way to protect your devices from botnets is to install antivirus software that can detect and block these malware-infected devices. Some antivirus apps automatically update with lists of known botnets and can alert you to any new threats.

You should also pay attention to suspicious activity on your computer, such as programs using a high percentage of your disk resources or excessive RAM usage. If you suspect your computer is infected, shut it down and unplug it from its internet connection as soon as possible.