A botnet is a network and a robot. It is where a few computers work together on a network in order to complete tasks. Just one computer or robot is in control of giving orders a little like a queen bee gives orders to the others so that they may complete a single task.
The dark side of botnets
Botnets may be used legally but are commonly used illegally as they make illegal activities a little easier online. Spyware is used with botnets, as is scareware. People use botnets to exploit systems and they may be used to overload a service so that you cannot operate correctly. Email spam is commonly done with botnets, and brute force programs often use a botnet. Adware and click fraud is done with botnets, and fast-flux DNS techniques are used by botnets to hit malware and phishing attempts.
Understanding the bot
Let’s forget the word bot and replace it with the word program(s) in this example. A program is installed on ten computers. The attacker’s computer has a program on it. That program communicates with the other ten programs and tells them what to do. So, the attacking program may want the other computers to visit a website and keep clicking refresh so that the website slows or crashes.
The attacking computer program communicates with the ten computers via their installed programs. The installed programs start visiting the website and clicking refresh until they are told not to.
Finding a bot on your computer
It may be there for a good reason. It could be that you installed an IM chat program. Or, it could be a tiny bit of code, just 15KB that was placed on your computer without your consent. If it is a malicious insertion then it may hold a task within it. That task may be activated if the attacking computer gives the order.
Prevention, detection, response
These are the three steps involved when dealing with malicious botnet activity, and it is similar to that of most malware and virus. You must first do all you can to prevent an attack, you must be able to detect attempts on your systems, and must be able to respond. Take care of all three factors and your risks become significantly less. Malicious companies will seek out computers that are always on, and the computers of people who are not aware of online risks.
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Photo cred: Flickr / JD Hancock
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