BotNet News

A botnet is a group of Internet-connected devices – computers, smart TVs, printers, or security cameras – infected with malware that allows it to be remotely controlled by a third party without the device owner’s knowledge. This swarm of rogue devices, collectively called zombie computers, can be used to inflict harm as part of many malicious schemes.

Cybercriminals can use botnets to launch large-scale automated attacks that were previously impossible for them to execute on their own or with a small team. The massive scale and speed of these networks can also allow them to steal personal details, distribute denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, harvest credentials, and more.

Bots infect endpoints, or zombie computers, by using file sharing, email, social media application protocols, and exploit kits. They then report back to the bot herder through a client-server or peer-to-peer model, or through a centralized command and control server.

To keep bots functioning properly, hackers update the malware on infected devices, increasing their capabilities and enhancing their evasion techniques. They also recruit new bots by spreading the malware through already infected machines or exploiting new vulnerabilities.

To stop threats from stealing data, organizations must block botnet communication channels and implement a robust defense-in-depth strategy that includes threat hunting, network filtering, blocking specific IP addresses or domains, and constant monitoring to detect any attempts to reconnect to C&C servers or to switch to different communication channels. ClouDNS offers industry-leading DNS speeds and can help organizations implement a comprehensive defense-in-depth approach to combat botnets.