Botnet? What Is That & Am I A Part Of One?

Question

Are You Unknowingly Part of a "Botnet"?

Answer

This question was answered on August 23, 2007. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

Bots (derived from web robot) are small automated programs that perform specific duties on the Internet. For instance, when you use sites like MySimon.com to find the best price on a blender, you are using a "shopbot". Google's indexing bot called Googlebot goes out every day looking millions of web pages to add to their index.

While most bots are providing valuable services, some are designed for malicious intent. There are thousands of bad bots roaming the Internet attempting to infect computers so they can become "zombies" in a network of bots, called a botnet.

Those infected by these bots rarely realize that they are participating in sending out spam, worms or viruses that impact others.

Author

Posted by George of Data Doctors on August 23, 2007