What is a Botnet: Signs Your Computer Is Part Of A Botnet

Botnets are a new reality that seems to have somehow imperceptibly swooped upon us. In fact, the first documented botnet¹ – a network of bots – was created as early as 2001. Today some botnets include tens of millions of machines. And these computers perform the tasks they are given in complete ignorance of their owners. What are botnets? How do they work, and why are they dangerous? How not to have anything to do with them? We’ll try to answer these questions in the current article.

What is a Botnet?

Botnet is a program installed on a computer that then, being controlled remotely, uses the host device to perform certain actions on the Internet. Of course, such a program is malicious. It is introduced into the device unbeknownst to the user, acts in secret, and the work it performs is illegal.

A botnet is a network of devices on which a botnet is installed and running. Such a network is constantly growing but continues to be controlled from one center, like a flock of sheep. It’s no wonder the command and control center of such a network is called a “herder.” A botnet is a growing controllable crowd that can be given different tasks and provided with the necessary software to complete them.

Botnets are a new word in hacking since one hacker with a botnet is already an army that makes it possible to take advantage of those system vulnerabilities that appear only under a large number of requests from different sources.

How Botnets Work: Algorithms

• Email spam. Spam can have different purposes. It can be real advertising or fraud messages, and it can also be the distribution of malware. A properly configured botnet can send tens of billions of messages per day. In addition, email spam is a way for new machines to join the botnet.
• Comments – a botnet can be used to rain down comments to keep a post trending or to support one or another political opinion in society. Such bots can track, for example, YouTube videos with certain names and leave pre-written comments under them.
• DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks are massive raids by bots with requests to the server, which crashes due to overload and cannot respond to requests. Such an attack is impossible for a single hacker but possible for a botnet. DDoS attacks are usually carried out against government systems and economic or political competitors.

For example, from the latest news, Ukraine was hit by DDoS attacks from hacked WordPress sites.

• Hacking² and stealing money from accounts can also be carried out using vulnerabilities exploited by botnets. Certain financial breach mechanisms allow bot-driven thefts on a huge scale. Also, targeted hacking can be carried out with the help of a powerful influx of requests, exposing the flaws in the defenses of the attacked systems.

How do Botnets Infect a Computer?

A botnet penetrates a computer according to a scenario familiar from examples of other malicious programs. Most likely, the user inadvertently opens a file attached to a spam email or clicks on that can be received both by email and in any messenger app. If so, the botnet will most likely be downloaded and installed via scripts embedded in a file or website. 

Once the botnet is deployed, it establishes contact with the control and command center and waits for the task. What is especially interesting about bots is that they are universal in their functions. As far as their permission allows, they can perform completely different actions. The botnet can be reprogrammed Signs Your Computer Is Part Of A Botnet

Signs of becoming a part of a botnet may be the consequences of other malware’s presence, hardware problems, lack of free memory, and whatnot. However, pay attention to these occurrences, especially if you register more than one of them:<

• Your computer struggles when it should idle. You can hear its fans rotate intensely, and the processor sounds like it is busy. You might want to check the Task Manager for strange processes. 
• Internet connection might seem to worsen. Nothing is wrong with the bandwidth, but the botnet might be generating dense traffic that interferes with what you are trying to do.
• The shutdown of your device might become considerably longer than usual. As if during the system update. 
• Crashes and freezings of the programs that previously worked fine can signify malicious botnet activity. Check the process that consumes a lot of your RAM. 
• Other people may complain that your mailbox or social media account distributes suspicious messages. That would be a certain hint that you are in a botnet. 

How Can a Computer be Protected from Botnet?

• First, you should have a good antivirus program. We recommend GridinSoft Anti-Malware. It is cost-effective, quick, and highly efficient. It protects you from suspicious and dangerous sites while you surf, and it also instantly removes malware if it has somehow penetrated your computer. If you have already managed to infect your computer with a bot, perform a deep scan using Anti-Malware. The bot will be found and removed.
• Take care of your passwords. On all devices where they can be set up – choose strong passwords. Pay special attention to routers and use public Wi-Fi. Remember to change your password from time to time. The password must include uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
• And, of course, be extremely careful when it comes to unexpected emails and messages on social networks or instant messengers. Do not download attachments or click on links contained in these messages. If you do not know the author and do not understand why the letter came to you, delete it immediately. Spam of this kind is the most common way to distribute malware.

1. What is a Botnet?
2. What is Hacking