What is a Botnet?
A Botnet is a network of Internet-connected devices (such as personal computers, servers, smartphones and IoT devices) infected with malware that enables cyber criminals to remotely control the device, sometimes without the user’s knowledge. In the past, hacker-controlled botnets were used to perform Distributed Denial of Service attacks, steal data and send spam.
Attackers gain access to the Internet-connected devices by breaching security, such as using Trojan horse viruses or social engineering tactics. Once they have access, attackers can infect each device with malware that connects it back to the cybercriminal’s botnet. This is known as the Stage 1 process of a Botnet attack. The bots are then used for a variety of purposes, including spam email delivery, data theft, DDoS attacks, click fraud and more.
In the past, hacker-controlled bots were controlled via a centralized server called a command and control (C&C) system. These systems connected infected devices to a pre-configured chat channel on a Internet Relay Chat (IRC) server and waited for instructions from the bot herder. The centralized model is now outdated, however, and more attackers are now relying on decentralized methods to give commands to infected devices.
The good news is that if you are careful about establishing multi-factor authentication, implementing DDoS protection and running up-to-date antivirus software on your device, you can minimize the chance of becoming part of a botnet. The key is to keep a close eye on your internet activity, as hackers continue to adapt their attack strategies and communication methods to avoid detection by cybersecurity software and stay hidden.