What is a Botnet?
A botnet is a network of computers and Internet-connected devices (such as routers, security cameras, or smart thermostats) that are infected with malware. This allows cybercriminals to control them remotely without the device owners’ knowledge or consent. The bots work together to perform various malicious activities, such as launching distributed denial-of-service attacks (DDoS), stealing sensitive information, or distributing spam. The person or group behind the botnet operation is known as the botmaster or bot herder.
Depending on the botnet’s purpose, different malware is used for infecting the devices. The infected devices, also called bots, are then organized into a large network that the bot herder can control remotely, usually via command and control servers. These servers can be centralized, using the client-server model, or they can be peer-to-peer (P2P) models. Peer-to-peer botnets are harder to detect and shut down than centralized client-server models.
Botnets can be a powerful tool for cybercriminals, but they come with significant risks to victims. The most common risks include:
Having your device in a botnet can have serious consequences, including spamming your contacts with phishing emails and distributing adware and malware. It can also lead to high energy bills as botnet tasks are typically high-intensity and power-draining. Additionally, your device can become a target for cyberattacks such as DDoS or targeted phishing attacks. For example, the Mirai botnet was able to use thousands of infected IoT devices to launch massive DDoS attacks. Other threats from botnets include stealing personal information and using the devices for ransomware.