How Do Botnets Work?
The word ‘botnet’ may conjure images of 1990s action movies predicting the future, but the technology is very real and a major threat to cybersecurity. Understanding how botnets work can help you protect yourself against this type of malware.
A botnet is a network of computers or devices infected with malicious software and controlled remotely by a cybercriminal known as a “bot herder.” When used for evil, these networks can be used to attack people or services and steal valuable information. They are also used for activities such as DDoS attacks, data theft, and cryptocurrency mining.
Once a device is infected with bot malware, it will monitor for instructions from a command and control (C2) server. These instructions can come from a wide variety of sources including data posted on websites, responses to DNS queries, and more. The malware will then execute the commands.
Typical signs that your device is infected with a botnet include sluggishness, slow opening of apps, and unusually high data usage for no apparent reason. You may also notice that your device feels hot even when you are not using it. This happens because the malware is working overtime to carry out tasks like spam delivery or DDoS attacks, which require a lot of processing power and battery.
IoT devices are particularly susceptible to becoming part of a botnet due to their low security controls and easy access to the internet. This is a major concern since they can be used to launch DDoS attacks, send spam, conduct click fraud, and spread malware. A good internet security suite, a strong password policy, and regularly updating your devices can all help prevent infection.