BOTNET

A BOTNET is a network of devices connected through internet which includes Personal Computers, Servers, Mobile devices and Internet of Things. All these devices are infected and controlled by a common type of malware. Users are often unaware of a BOTNET infecting their system.

Botnets are networks of compromised computers that are remotely controlled by malicious Agents. They are used to send massive quantities of spam e-mail messages, co-ordinate distributed denial-of-service (DDOS) attacks and facilitate financial and identity fraud, among other economically and socially harmful activities

How BOTNET works

The term botnet is derived from the words robot and network. A bot in this case is a device infected by malicious code, which then becomes part of a network, or net, of infected devices controlled by a single attacker or attack group.

 The botnet malware typically looks for vulnerable devices across the internet, rather than targeting specific individuals, companies or industries. The objective for creating a botnet is to infect as many connected devices as possible and to use the computing power and resources of those devices for automated tasks that generally remain hidden to the users of the devices.

BOTNET Architecture

Botnet infections are usually spread through malware. Botnet malware is typically designed to automatically scan systems and devices for common vulnerabilities that haven't been patched in hopes of infecting as many devices as possible.

Vulnerable devices

The recent influx of cheap, internet-capable devices is vulnerable to botnet attacks. This is because these devices have either limited security features to begin with or because the security features are difficult to manage.

Impacts of Botnets

 Botnets can impact device and Internet performance, slowing down connections and affecting usability.

Criminals also use botnets to launch DDoS attacks that bring down organizational websites/Services

Typically, users don’t even realize their computer is part of a botnet You’re living your life and meanwhile, your computer is part of an army of zombies, carrying out the orders of cybercriminals.

They also pose a risk to consumer privacy. Private credentials like passwords can be stolen, giving access to online bank accounts, social media accounts, and other personal data.

How to detect and prevent botnet attacks

Botnet attacks frequently go undetected because they involve a wide network of devices that operate in the background of a user's device and occupy little bandwidth. They also target the wide variety of devices in IoT, which all vary in the ways that they interact with the physical world and in the ways in which users can secure them. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to botnet detection and prevention, but manufacturers and enterprises can start by incorporating the following:

Strong user authentication method.

Secure remote firmware updates. Only firmware from the original manufacturer should be permitted.

Secure boot. This ensures the device only executes code produced by trusted parties.

Advanced behavioral analysis. This detects unusual behavior in IoT traffic.

Automation, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI). These enable response to new threats at digital speeds before they cause serious harm.

1. Unfortunately, botnet attacks are hard to detect on an individual level because devices continue to act normally while infected by botnet malware. It may be possible for the user to remove the malware itself but less likely for the user to be able to have any effect on the botnet as a whole.