What is a Botnet and How Does it Work?
Botnets are a dangerous and complex cyber threat. They can crash networks, inject malware, steal credentials and execute CPU-intensive attacks on connected devices.
The first step in creating a botnet is to scan the internet-connected devices and computers for vulnerabilities. These include unpatched software, poor security configurations and hardcoded gaps.
Once a device is found to have these weaknesses, it’s then compromised by a malicious actor who controls the network. Depending on the type of attack, a botnet can be comprised of thousands or millions of devices.
A bot herder operates the infrastructure that infects and controls these devices to launch DDoS, ransomware, phishing and other attacks. They control the botnets through one of two structures: a centralized model where all the infected devices are linked directly to their Command-and-Control (C&C) server, and a decentralized system with multiple links between the bot herder’s servers and the infected devices.
The C&C server can be a single computer or a group of machines, which act as an intermediary to send and receive data. It has access to the infected devices’ IP addresses and is able to update the malware that powers the network, allowing it to switch behavior quickly.
A good way to prevent botnet infection is to update your operating system and keep your anti-virus application updated. This will help detect and block any newly-discovered infections before they can spread further. Additionally, beware of phishing emails and avoid clicking on email attachments from suspicious sources.