BotNet News

A botnet is a network of infected computers or IoT devices (such as cameras, thermostats, and routers) under the control of an attacker. A botnet proves there is strength in numbers, enabling criminal actors to do things like stealing sensitive data, sending spam, clicking on ads or launching distributed denial-of-service attacks (DDoS).

Hackers first infect the device using malware from exploit kits, web downloads, popup ads and other techniques. Once the device is infected, it becomes a “zombie” that obeys commands from an attacker (also known as a bot herder).

Once the device is infected, it begins to send data to a command and control (C&C) server. C&C servers serve as the central hub for a botnet, receiving instructions from the bot herder and distributing them to compromised devices. C&C servers also collect data from the infected devices and report it back to the bot herder.

Peer-to-peer botnets, such as ZeroAccess and 3ve, operate through Trojan horse malware that evades anti-virus software. Peer-to-peer botnets connect to other infected devices and share instructions, making it harder to detect and block them.

You may be able to tell if your device is part of a botnet if it feels sluggish or takes longer to open apps. Also, sudden spikes in your data usage could indicate that your device is working overtime for the botnet. Frequent system crashes or blue screens, or unexplained application errors, are other red flags. Botnet malware often uses your device’s processing power to perform tasks, like cryptocurrency mining or participating in DDoS attacks. This can cause your device to overheat and slow down its performance.