What Is a Botnet? or Zombie Army?




Botnet A Growing Threat is a number of Internet-connected devices (also known as a 

zombie armyused by a botnet owner a leader to perform various tasks. Botnets can be 

used to perform Distributed Denial Of Service Attack, steal data, send spam, allow the 

attacker access to the device and its connection. The owner can control the botnet using 

command and control (C&C) software. The  word botnet is a combination of the words 

robot and network. The term is usually used with a negative or malicious connotation.


How Botnets Are Controlled?

Botnets can be controlled in several different ways. Some are basic and easier to foil, 

while others are trickier and harder to take down.

How Bots Work?

Bots sneak onto a person’s computer in many ways. Bots often spread themselves across 

the Internet by searching for vulnerable, unprotected computers to infect. When they find 

an exposed computer, they quickly infect the machine and then report back to their 

master. Their goal is then to stay hidden until they are instructed to carry out a task.






After a computer is taken over by a bot, it can be used to carry out a variety of automated 

tasks, including the following:


Sending They send:

- spam
- viruses
- spyware


Stealing They steal personal and private information and communicate it back to the malicious user:

- credit card numbers
- bank credentials
- other sensitive personal information

And Clickfraud Fraudsters use bots to boost Web advertising billings by automatically 

clicking on Internet ads.

Protect Against Bots

To be safe against malicious bots, security experts offer the following advice:

-Install top-rated security software.
-Configure your software's settings to update automatically.
-Increase the security settings on your browser.
-Limit your user rights when online.
-Never click on attachments unless you can verify the source.
-Ensure that your system is patched with the most current Microsoft Windows Update.
-Set your computer’s security settings to update automatically, to
ensure you always have the most current system patches.


Botnets are simply organized groups of infected computers that criminals control for their 

own purposes. And, when it comes to malware, their purpose is usually to make a profit.

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