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A botnet is a group of internet-connected devices infected or otherwise compromised so an attacker can coordinate them remotely. Those devices—often called bots—may include computers, routers, and cameras, and their owners may not know they are being used. An operator can direct the group to disrupt websites, send spam, spread malware, or carry out other crimes.
What a botnet is—and how it works
ENISA defines a botnet as “a network of connected devices infected by bot malware.” CISA’s NICCS glossary describes it as “a collection of computers compromised by malicious code and controlled across a network.” The person directing the devices is commonly called a bot herder or bot master.
Malware or another unauthorized foothold gives an attacker access to devices. The operator can then coordinate them through command-and-control infrastructure, or devices can communicate with one another in a peer-to-peer arrangement. The details vary: a botnet does not have to use one central server, and its devices are not limited to desktop computers. Internet-connected routers and cameras can also be targeted.
One compromised device may have limited reach. A botnet lets an operator coordinate activity across many devices, increasing the scale of what they can do.
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How devices become part of a botnet
Common routes include tricking someone into opening a malicious link or attachment, exploiting an unpatched software vulnerability, or accessing a connected device with weak or factory-default credentials. The FBI describes deceptive emails, malicious links, and compromised websites as ways malware can reach computers.
Mirai is a historical example, not a description of every botnet today. ENISA’s 2016 threat landscape described Mirai automatically finding and exploiting internet-connected devices—including IP cameras, home routers, and DVRs—that still used common factory-default usernames and passwords.
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A compromised device may continue to appear to work normally. Botnets can operate without obvious visible evidence, so a slowdown or pop-up by itself does not establish that a device is infected. The sources do not establish a definitive consumer symptom checklist.
What botnet operators use them for
A botnet is the network of compromised devices; the activity its operator orders them to perform is a separate matter. Documented uses include:
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- Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS): directing devices to send traffic at a website, server, or network resource to disrupt access.
- Spam and malware delivery: using compromised devices to send unwanted messages or distribute malicious software.
- Proxy services: routing activity through compromised devices.
- Information theft and fraud: stealing credentials or personal and financial information. In the FBI’s Coreflood case, keylogging malware was used to capture information typed on infected computers.
- Ransomware and cryptocurrency mining: using compromised devices to support extortion or to mine cryptocurrency without the owner’s authorization.
These are different ways to misuse a botnet, not alternative definitions of one. A botnet is not synonymous with a DDoS attack.
Botnet DDoS attacks and traffic amplification
In a botnet-powered DDoS attack, an operator coordinates many compromised devices to send traffic toward a target. The FBI explains that such botnets can make a victim server or network resource unavailable by overloading it with fake or illegitimate traffic.
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Not every DDoS attack uses a botnet. ENISA also describes amplification attacks that abuse misconfigured internet services. An attacker can send specially formed requests that cause those services to return larger responses toward a victim. The services involved may be abused because of their configuration without themselves being infected or under the attacker’s control.
| Method | What is being used | Must the devices or services be infected? |
|---|---|---|
| Botnet DDoS | A coordinated group of compromised devices sending traffic at a target. | Yes: the devices are compromised or under unauthorized control. |
| Amplification DDoS | Misconfigured services that send larger responses after specially formed requests. | Not necessarily: the services may be abused without being infected. |
How to reduce the risk of infection
These steps address common infection routes. They reduce exposure but cannot guarantee that a device is clean or prevent every compromise.
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- Install software and firmware updates. Updates can address vulnerabilities that attackers may exploit. Check for updates for computers, routers, cameras, and other connected devices.
- Replace factory-default passwords. Set strong, unique credentials for connected devices rather than keeping credentials that came with the product.
- Be cautious with unsolicited links and attachments. Avoid opening unexpected messages or downloads when you cannot verify their source.
If you suspect a device has been compromised, seek guidance through the device maker’s or network provider’s official support channels, or consult a qualified security professional. The available guidance does not establish that any one symptom proves infection or identify a universal cleanup tool.
Historical botnet case figures
Older law-enforcement cases illustrate the scale of particular investigations, not the number of devices currently infected worldwide. In 2011, the FBI said malware in the Coreflood operation had infected as many as two million computers. In 2007, the FBI reported more than one million victim computer IP addresses identified in its then-current Operation Bot Roast investigation; that is an address count, not a count of unique people. These figures refer to separate historical cases and should not be treated as current prevalence estimates.
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