How Botnet Attacks Are Controlled
Botnet attacks occur when a cybercriminal controls hundreds or thousands of devices that are infected with malware. The devices are then used for malicious purposes, such as data theft, spam email generation and DDoS attacks.
A centralized model of botnet control enables the bot herder to direct commands from a single centralized command-and-control (C&C) server and channel. The C&C server connects with the bots and then executes the commands on the infected devices.
Decentralized botnet models are also available that do not require a single C2 server. These models embed instruction responsibilities across all the zombie computers, which makes it harder to detect.
Peer-to-peer botnets, meanwhile, rely on existing peer-to-peer networks to communicate. These P2P bot programs communicate with the herder through a list of trusty computers and can continue to relay commands even if the primary C2 server is shut down.
These peer-to-peer architectures have many advantages over older centralized models. These include fewer potential points of failure, increased resilience and resistance to termination, and encryption for communication to further restrict access.
When a botnet is active, it can cause your internet connection to slow down or crash unexpectedly. This is a sign that you may have been infected with malware.
The most effective way to prevent botnet attacks is to update all your software and hardware regularly. For IoT devices, this can involve flashing the firmware or running a factory reset. These steps can help you regain control over your device in case it is infected with malware or if the device becomes compromised by an attack in the future.