Devices become part of a botnet when they are infected with a particular malware. Such malware infections are usually spread through phishing links, spam mails, and unofficial software downloads from the internet. It’s hard to tell if your device is part of a botnet. But unexplainable reduction in processing power, slower internet connection speeds, and unfamiliar programs and files usually indicate the presence of botnet malware. Detecting and removing botnet malware can be challenging even for cybersecurity experts. Hence, it’s best to prevent an infection in the first place. Installing an antivirus scanner, like Norton 360, is the best way of preventing a botnet malware infection. Check out the latest offers on Norton 360 But how do hackers build a botnet? What are some of the signs of a botnet infection? How can you protect your devices? We answer all these questions and more in this article.
What is a Botnet?
The term ‘botnet’ is a combination of two words: Robot and network. Robot here refers to an infected computing device, which could be a computer, mobile device, smart TV, or other similar internet of things (IoT) devices. Network refers to the collective group of infected machines controlled by the hacker. The hacker controlling the botnet is often referred to as the bot herder or bot master. The bot master is the central point that controls the actions of the entire network and can use it to cause severe harm to the infected devices and other devices. Bot herders who control larger botnets can cause significant damage to critical internet infrastructure used by the Government and large organizations.
What can a botnet do?
Botnet malware grants a range of permissions and authorizations to the hacker, allowing them to control the whole device virtually. However, hackers will usually only use some of the device’s processing capability to avoid detection. Some of the specific actions a Botnet can perform on an infected device are:
Installing applications and malware, such as keyloggers Moving, copying, or deleting files Gathering and transferring sensitive user data Scanning for other devices on common or shared networks Diverting the device’s computing power for combined DDoS or spam attacks
What are the different kinds of botnets?
Botnets are usually classified on the kind of architecture they use. There are two major kinds of architecture, namely: centralized and decentralized. Each of them works in the following manner:
Centralized botnets
In a centralized botnet architecture, each bot or infected device is connected to a common command and control server. The server is usually controlled by a hacker or cybercriminal, who uses it to achieve their objectives, such as DDoS or spam attacks. The simple hierarchy and structure of a centralized botnet, also known as the “client-server model,” cause it to be more efficient. The bot herder only needs to change or update the command and control server to alter the functionality of the entire botnet. In other words, the bot herder can quickly change the botnet from one that primarily carries out DDoS attacks to one that gathers financial information. However, a major downside of the centralized botnet architecture is its single point of failure. If the common command and control server is inoperative, the entire botnet ceases to exist.
Decentralized botnets
To resolve the single point of failure problem associated with centralized botnets, hackers now use decentralized botnets. In such an architecture, each infected device acts as both the node and a command and control server. You can also think of it as a peer-to-peer botnet model. Each peer has the entire control structure embedded inside it. Hence, there is no need for a centralized command server. While decentralized botnets are tougher to take down, they can be taken over by anyone controlling more than 50% of active bots as there is no single command center.
How is a botnet created?
The steps involved in creating a botnet can be broken down as follows:
What are Botnets Used For?: Types of Botnet Attacks
Botnets are well suited to long hacking campaigns that require the sustained and continuous use of computing power. Additionally, they are ideal for targeted attacks against pre-identified institutions and organizations. Some of the more common uses of Botnets are listed below:
1. DDoS attacks
The most common use of a botnet is for conducting DDoS attacks. The term “DDoS” refers to distributed denial-of-service. This means that too many devices try to access a website at the same time, which crashes the site’s servers, resulting in a failure of service. Such a DDoS attack can cause a website to be unreachable to real users. Botnets can also be used to launch brute-force attacks.
2. Spam and phishing
Without the owners of the devices knowing, they can be used to spread spam or phishing emails and messages. The bot master can send emails to individuals in your contact list or post on Facebook under your name. Your friends and family might open these emails or click on links because they trust you. Without knowing it, you might infect everybody around you with bots or other viruses and spyware.
3. Sell credentials
Once a hacker has placed a bot on your device, they gain access to all the information on it. This means they probably know your passwords and login information. As a result, they can steal your identity and do things in your name. Moreover, they might sell this information to others using the dark web.
4. Bitcoin mining
To mine bitcoin, you need a lot of processor power. The bot herder can use the processor power of the bot-infected devices to mine bitcoin. This happens without the owners of the devices knowing. However, it is questionable whether or not this mining method is actually worthwhile because you need a lot of bots to generate a small sum of money.
5. Malware infection and spreading
Botnets can be potent tools to distribute malware, particularly ransomware, to other connected devices. The hacker instructs the bots to detect vulnerabilities in other devices and drop the malware files using common network infrastructure. Resultantly, botnets can be used to quickly infect a large number of devices with a certain kind of malware.
Famous Examples of Botnet Attacks
It’s always easier to grasp a concept when linked to real-world examples. The following table provides some examples of famous botnet attacks in history.
Am I Part of a Botnet?: Possible Signs of a Botnet Infection
Botnets are increasingly sophisticated and the average user probably won’t even know if their devices are part of one. Hackers and cybercriminals intentionally use only a portion of a device’s computing power to avoid detection. However, there are some tell-tale signs of a botnet infection:
What to Do If Your Device is Infected by Botnet Malware
If you’re experiencing some of the symptoms above, it’s quite likely that your device has a botnet malware infection. In such a situation, you must focus on isolating the infected device and then identifying and removing the malware. Here’s what you can do:
How to Prevent a Botnet Attack
Botnet malware detection is not straightforward. Hence, your best option is to prevent a botnet infection in the first place. The steps outlined below should help prevent botnet infections and improve your device’s overall security.
Avoid clicking on suspicious links
Botnets, like most forms of malware, are primarily spread through phishing links and spam mail. By avoiding unfamiliar links, you can reduce the chances of downloading botnet malware onto your devices.
In addition to unfamiliar links, you should also avoid downloading any mail attachments from senders you do not recognize. Such attachments are another common way to spread botnet malware.
Do not download programs or software from unverified sources
While downloading free software from the internet can seem like a great deal, it’s important to remember that there’s probably a good reason the software is free. Usually, the reason is that the free software file includes malware, such as a botnet.
Of course, there are several websites that offer legitimate free software downloads and are secure. Using these isn’t usually a problem. However, it’s best to exercise abundant caution and have a firewall running on your device. This will prevent downloads of files that are infected with malware, including botnet malware.
Change default password settings on your smart devices
Most IoT devices have a default username and password. These default passwords are fairly easy to guess and make your devices an easy target for hackers. To avoid your smart devices becoming part of a botnet, change the default password to a more secure one.
A secure password is usually a combination of characters, numbers, and alphabets. It should also be between 10 and 16 letters long. Generating such secure passwords can be quite a challenge. However, with a password manager, you can generate countless such passwords and store them securely. This way, you never have to worry about forgetting long and complex passwords.
Keep your IoT devices on a separate Wi-Fi network
Since IoT devices are relatively easy targets for botnet hackers, you can prevent the infection from spreading by keeping IoT devices on a different WiFi network. You can do this by either creating a separate band on your router or by buying a new secure VPN router.
Another good safety practice is to set up a guest network on your WiFi router. This will ensure that infections from devices belonging to people visiting your office or house do not spread to your devices.
Regularly update your operating system and other software.
IT and software companies regularly release patches and updates that resolve security issues in their software or hardware. Keeping your devices updated can help ward off potential botnet attacks.
Install an antivirus scanner
An antivirus scanner is essential to ensure the security of your devices. It scans your devices for potential malware and removes them before they can infect your device. Additionally, leading antivirus scanners like Norton 360 feature a firewall, which prevents infected files from being downloaded on your device. Norton 360 comes with a 100% virus protection promise. This means that if a Norton expert cannot remove a virus from your device, including a botnet, you will be eligible for a refund. It also features a password manager which, as mentioned previously, can help keep your devices secure from possible botnet infections.
Conclusion: Protect Your Device Against Botnets
Botnet malware is particularly dangerous as it can infect and run on your devices for a considerable period of time without detection. Additionally, it can infect other network devices and include them within the larger botnet. Devices infected by a botnet can suffer in terms of performance and connectivity. Since botnets are difficult to detect, it’s advisable to adopt a multi-prong prevention strategy. Such a strategy should center around an antivirus scanner, like Norton 360, that detects and deletes any botnet malware on your devices. In addition to installing an antivirus scanner, you should follow basic but important digital safety practices, such as avoiding suspicious links and not downloading software from unverified sources. While botnets can be particularly dangerous, they are just one form of malware that can infect your devices. Read some of our other articles to learn more about the different kinds of malware that can affect your devices:
What is Remote Access Trojan? Remove and prevent RATs. What is Spyware? How Do You Protect Your Devices? Killware: What is it and How Can You Protect Yourself?
Once a device is infected and included in the botnet, it can be used to complete a range of objectives. These include launching DDoS attacks, sending spam mails, infecting other devices etc. Refer to our article on botnets for a deeper understanding of what they are they can do. Devices that are part of a botnet can also be used to be infect other devices and increase the size of the botnet.
title: “What Is A Botnet And How To Protect Your Devices In 2023” ShowToc: true date: “2023-03-16” author: “Edward Proper”
Devices become part of a botnet when they are infected with a particular malware. Such malware infections are usually spread through phishing links, spam mails, and unofficial software downloads from the internet. It’s hard to tell if your device is part of a botnet. But unexplainable reduction in processing power, slower internet connection speeds, and unfamiliar programs and files usually indicate the presence of botnet malware. Detecting and removing botnet malware can be challenging even for cybersecurity experts. Hence, it’s best to prevent an infection in the first place. Installing an antivirus scanner, like Norton 360, is the best way of preventing a botnet malware infection. Check out the latest offers on Norton 360 But how do hackers build a botnet? What are some of the signs of a botnet infection? How can you protect your devices? We answer all these questions and more in this article.
What is a Botnet?
The term ‘botnet’ is a combination of two words: Robot and network. Robot here refers to an infected computing device, which could be a computer, mobile device, smart TV, or other similar internet of things (IoT) devices. Network refers to the collective group of infected machines controlled by the hacker. The hacker controlling the botnet is often referred to as the bot herder or bot master. The bot master is the central point that controls the actions of the entire network and can use it to cause severe harm to the infected devices and other devices. Bot herders who control larger botnets can cause significant damage to critical internet infrastructure used by the Government and large organizations.
What can a botnet do?
Botnet malware grants a range of permissions and authorizations to the hacker, allowing them to control the whole device virtually. However, hackers will usually only use some of the device’s processing capability to avoid detection. Some of the specific actions a Botnet can perform on an infected device are:
Installing applications and malware, such as keyloggers Moving, copying, or deleting files Gathering and transferring sensitive user data Scanning for other devices on common or shared networks Diverting the device’s computing power for combined DDoS or spam attacks
What are the different kinds of botnets?
Botnets are usually classified on the kind of architecture they use. There are two major kinds of architecture, namely: centralized and decentralized. Each of them works in the following manner:
Centralized botnets
In a centralized botnet architecture, each bot or infected device is connected to a common command and control server. The server is usually controlled by a hacker or cybercriminal, who uses it to achieve their objectives, such as DDoS or spam attacks. The simple hierarchy and structure of a centralized botnet, also known as the “client-server model,” cause it to be more efficient. The bot herder only needs to change or update the command and control server to alter the functionality of the entire botnet. In other words, the bot herder can quickly change the botnet from one that primarily carries out DDoS attacks to one that gathers financial information. However, a major downside of the centralized botnet architecture is its single point of failure. If the common command and control server is inoperative, the entire botnet ceases to exist.
Decentralized botnets
To resolve the single point of failure problem associated with centralized botnets, hackers now use decentralized botnets. In such an architecture, each infected device acts as both the node and a command and control server. You can also think of it as a peer-to-peer botnet model. Each peer has the entire control structure embedded inside it. Hence, there is no need for a centralized command server. While decentralized botnets are tougher to take down, they can be taken over by anyone controlling more than 50% of active bots as there is no single command center.
How is a botnet created?
The steps involved in creating a botnet can be broken down as follows:
What are Botnets Used For?: Types of Botnet Attacks
Botnets are well suited to long hacking campaigns that require the sustained and continuous use of computing power. Additionally, they are ideal for targeted attacks against pre-identified institutions and organizations. Some of the more common uses of Botnets are listed below:
1. DDoS attacks
The most common use of a botnet is for conducting DDoS attacks. The term “DDoS” refers to distributed denial-of-service. This means that too many devices try to access a website at the same time, which crashes the site’s servers, resulting in a failure of service. Such a DDoS attack can cause a website to be unreachable to real users. Botnets can also be used to launch brute-force attacks.
2. Spam and phishing
Without the owners of the devices knowing, they can be used to spread spam or phishing emails and messages. The bot master can send emails to individuals in your contact list or post on Facebook under your name. Your friends and family might open these emails or click on links because they trust you. Without knowing it, you might infect everybody around you with bots or other viruses and spyware.
3. Sell credentials
Once a hacker has placed a bot on your device, they gain access to all the information on it. This means they probably know your passwords and login information. As a result, they can steal your identity and do things in your name. Moreover, they might sell this information to others using the dark web.
4. Bitcoin mining
To mine bitcoin, you need a lot of processor power. The bot herder can use the processor power of the bot-infected devices to mine bitcoin. This happens without the owners of the devices knowing. However, it is questionable whether or not this mining method is actually worthwhile because you need a lot of bots to generate a small sum of money.
5. Malware infection and spreading
Botnets can be potent tools to distribute malware, particularly ransomware, to other connected devices. The hacker instructs the bots to detect vulnerabilities in other devices and drop the malware files using common network infrastructure. Resultantly, botnets can be used to quickly infect a large number of devices with a certain kind of malware.
Famous Examples of Botnet Attacks
It’s always easier to grasp a concept when linked to real-world examples. The following table provides some examples of famous botnet attacks in history.
Am I Part of a Botnet?: Possible Signs of a Botnet Infection
Botnets are increasingly sophisticated and the average user probably won’t even know if their devices are part of one. Hackers and cybercriminals intentionally use only a portion of a device’s computing power to avoid detection. However, there are some tell-tale signs of a botnet infection:
What to Do If Your Device is Infected by Botnet Malware
If you’re experiencing some of the symptoms above, it’s quite likely that your device has a botnet malware infection. In such a situation, you must focus on isolating the infected device and then identifying and removing the malware. Here’s what you can do:
How to Prevent a Botnet Attack
Botnet malware detection is not straightforward. Hence, your best option is to prevent a botnet infection in the first place. The steps outlined below should help prevent botnet infections and improve your device’s overall security.
Avoid clicking on suspicious links
Botnets, like most forms of malware, are primarily spread through phishing links and spam mail. By avoiding unfamiliar links, you can reduce the chances of downloading botnet malware onto your devices.
In addition to unfamiliar links, you should also avoid downloading any mail attachments from senders you do not recognize. Such attachments are another common way to spread botnet malware.
Do not download programs or software from unverified sources
While downloading free software from the internet can seem like a great deal, it’s important to remember that there’s probably a good reason the software is free. Usually, the reason is that the free software file includes malware, such as a botnet.
Of course, there are several websites that offer legitimate free software downloads and are secure. Using these isn’t usually a problem. However, it’s best to exercise abundant caution and have a firewall running on your device. This will prevent downloads of files that are infected with malware, including botnet malware.
Change default password settings on your smart devices
Most IoT devices have a default username and password. These default passwords are fairly easy to guess and make your devices an easy target for hackers. To avoid your smart devices becoming part of a botnet, change the default password to a more secure one.
A secure password is usually a combination of characters, numbers, and alphabets. It should also be between 10 and 16 letters long. Generating such secure passwords can be quite a challenge. However, with a password manager, you can generate countless such passwords and store them securely. This way, you never have to worry about forgetting long and complex passwords.
Keep your IoT devices on a separate Wi-Fi network
Since IoT devices are relatively easy targets for botnet hackers, you can prevent the infection from spreading by keeping IoT devices on a different WiFi network. You can do this by either creating a separate band on your router or by buying a new secure VPN router.
Another good safety practice is to set up a guest network on your WiFi router. This will ensure that infections from devices belonging to people visiting your office or house do not spread to your devices.
Regularly update your operating system and other software.
IT and software companies regularly release patches and updates that resolve security issues in their software or hardware. Keeping your devices updated can help ward off potential botnet attacks.
Install an antivirus scanner
An antivirus scanner is essential to ensure the security of your devices. It scans your devices for potential malware and removes them before they can infect your device. Additionally, leading antivirus scanners like Norton 360 feature a firewall, which prevents infected files from being downloaded on your device. Norton 360 comes with a 100% virus protection promise. This means that if a Norton expert cannot remove a virus from your device, including a botnet, you will be eligible for a refund. It also features a password manager which, as mentioned previously, can help keep your devices secure from possible botnet infections.
Conclusion: Protect Your Device Against Botnets
Botnet malware is particularly dangerous as it can infect and run on your devices for a considerable period of time without detection. Additionally, it can infect other network devices and include them within the larger botnet. Devices infected by a botnet can suffer in terms of performance and connectivity. Since botnets are difficult to detect, it’s advisable to adopt a multi-prong prevention strategy. Such a strategy should center around an antivirus scanner, like Norton 360, that detects and deletes any botnet malware on your devices. In addition to installing an antivirus scanner, you should follow basic but important digital safety practices, such as avoiding suspicious links and not downloading software from unverified sources. While botnets can be particularly dangerous, they are just one form of malware that can infect your devices. Read some of our other articles to learn more about the different kinds of malware that can affect your devices:
What is Remote Access Trojan? Remove and prevent RATs. What is Spyware? How Do You Protect Your Devices? Killware: What is it and How Can You Protect Yourself?
Once a device is infected and included in the botnet, it can be used to complete a range of objectives. These include launching DDoS attacks, sending spam mails, infecting other devices etc. Refer to our article on botnets for a deeper understanding of what they are they can do. Devices that are part of a botnet can also be used to be infect other devices and increase the size of the botnet.
