Defending Against Botnet Attacks
A botnet is a network of hijacked devices, such as computers, smartphones, and Internet of Things (IoT) gadgets, that an attacker controls remotely without the device owners’ knowledge or consent. The compromised devices, known as bots, connect to a hacker’s command-and-control server—or C2 server—to receive instructions on how to carry out attacks. Attacks can range from stealing data to launching DDoS attacks and spamming users.
A hacker can infect any device with malware using phishing emails, malicious downloads, or software vulnerabilities. Computers and mobile devices are common targets, but IoT devices such as routers, smart TVs, and even baby monitors also pose risks because they don’t have the same security features as traditional computers.
Once the devices are infected with bot malware, hackers can exploit them to send spam, conduct DDoS attacks, and distribute ransomware and spyware. They may also gather keystrokes to steal online credentials or use form grabbing to steal banking information and other sensitive data.
Defending against botnets requires an ongoing effort to keep devices up to date with operating system updates that close security gaps. Keeping antivirus and antimalware software updated can also help block malware infections that could lead to botnet infection.
There are several different types of botnets based on their structure and how they’re controlled. Centralized botnets rely on a single command-and-control server, which can be more difficult to identify and shut down. Decentralized botnets, on the other hand, operate in a peer-to-peer (P2P) framework where each bot acts as both client and server. P2P botnets are therefore harder to detect and mitigate.