Two of the IT terms you may have heard are Bot and Botnet. Let's see what exactly they are and how they work online.
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It is the Bot
Bot is an Internet robot (Internet bot) and is essentially a program set up on a computer that performs automated tasks or simulates human activity on the Internet. Its name comes from the English word robot and you may also come across it as a web bot.
Bots are designed to automate tasks on their own, without human intervention. These tasks are often highly repetitive and predetermined and can be done much more quickly, reliably and accurately than a human.
Another use of bots is in applications where a high response speed is required, higher than that of humans (e.g. auction-site bots) or in applications where the simulation of human behavior is required (e.g. e.g. bots that participate in discussions – chat bots).
The most common types of Bots
Bots can have different functions and are distinguished by the variation in their name. The most common include:
Chatbot – These robots simulate human conversation using programmed responses. Chatbots are often used in service and support situations, reducing the need for human support staff.
Web crawler – Also known as spiders, these bots scan content on web pages across the internet, indexing the information in search engines. Similar to these robots are web scraping crawlers, which are used to collect data and retrieve relevant content.
Shopbot – Shopbots scour the web to find the best prices on a product.
Monitoring bot – These bots are used to monitor the health of a website or network system and can alert the appropriate IT professionals when a problem is detected.
Transaction bot – Transaction bots are used to execute trades initiated by a human.
Social bot – These bots operate specifically on social media platforms performing a myriad of tasks.
Malicious bot – Malicious bots are used by scammers, hackers, and general attackers to illegally record the content of infected computers and networks, spread spam, or carry out attacks, such as DDoS, etc. These bots are created to run in the background, which means that users may not be aware that their systems have been compromised.
What is a Botnet?
The word Botnet comes from the abbreviation of the terms “ro bot ” and “ net work” (robot and network) and refers to a group of computers that have been compromised and infected with malware.
These infected machines, individually known as “bots” or “zombies,” are remotely controlled by an attacker, often referred to as a “ bot-herder .” This infected network of bots can launch synchronized, large-scale attacks on targeted systems or networks.
Since a botnet can have millions of bots embedded in it, the bot-herder has the ability to perform significant and highly impactful criminal acts.
Bot-herders typically control the botnet remotely via a command and control server. This allows them to steal personal data and passwords, spread spam, or launch other types of attacks, such as DDoS attacks , by taking full advantage of the computing resources and bandwidth available through the botnet.
Of course, another task of the botnet is to grow itself by spreading the malware from one device to another, a process that can be done in other ways, such as phishing, 0-day security gaps, etc.
How botnets work
Botnets are controlled by the bot-herder and through a command-and-control (C&C) server or network controlled by hackers. This server works as a central control point for the hacker, as it sends commands to the infected devices, but also receives data from them.
In order to avoid detection, botnets often use techniques to hide their activities. Indicatively, such techniques are the encryption of communications, the use of peer-to-peer communication between bots instead of using a central server, etc.
Of course, your computer can also be part of a botnet, that is, become a bot, if it gets infected. You may not have understood it, since it does not aim to destroy your machine but to use its resources on behalf of hackers.
The ways your computer can become part of a botnet are the same ways it can become infected with other malware.
How can you protect yourself
There are several signs that your computer has become part of a botnet, i.e. it is a zombie. Always keep in mind the following indications:
- Reduced operating speed
- Unusual pop-ups or messages
- Sudden device malfunctions or reboots
- Excessive RAM consumption
- Sending emails from the computer without your consent
- Unjustified program interruptions
- Unjustified upload and download traffic
Of course there is some standard routine of moves that will protect you from getting infected, although actually protecting a computer or network requires a comprehensive security approach.
The main thing, apart from the security measures you will take, is that both you and the other users of your network have been educated about the nature of each attack and the possible risks.
In terms of safety measures, you can include the following in your daily routine:
Frequent software updates
The latest updates offer security updates in addition to new features. This applies to both the operating system and all applications, from the browser to your heaviest program.
Antivirus program
You can't imagine a computer today without having a reliable antivirus software, which of course should always be up to date. Scan your system regularly and set your antivirus to online mode.
Strong passwords
Use strong and unique passwords for all services. The logic of “123456” and “dimitris95” can be broken by brute-force in minutes.
Beware of phishing
Do not open unknown files, especially when they are attached to emails. Also do not click on links if you are not sure of their source. And no, the IRS will never return forgotten money that it now remembers.
Install only what you use
Delete all the forgotten apps that you will never run and that have been out of date for years. Also disable all unnecessary online services such as shared documents or Remote Desktop. This way you reduce your exposure to potential attacks.
Always with a firewall
Always use a firewall to monitor and control incoming and outgoing network traffic. Check their rules from time to time, especially the latest ones.
Be careful what you download
Only download software from trusted sources. Be very careful with “free” software that may include adware or other unwanted programs. Some years ago, newspapers also distributed CDs with free software, not all applications were innocent.
Keep backup
Back up your important data regularly to an external device or the Cloud. It is the only solution to ransomware attacks and to destructive malware attacks in general.
Dimitris hates Mondays...
