Botnets

A botnet is a network of secure computers or devices infected with malicious software, controlled remotely by cybercriminals called botmasters. These compromised devices, called bots or zombies, can be used collectively to perform coordinated actions without the owners’ knowledge. Common malicious activities include launching spam email campaigns, carrying out distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks that overwhelm websites, or stealing sensitive data. Botnets are created through malware infections and can consist of thousands or even millions of devices worldwide, making them powerful tools for cybercriminal operations.