What is a botnet?

What is a botnet?

• A. A single infected computer.
• B. A large collection of compromised computers.
• C. A network of trusted servers.
• D. A firewall protecting a network.

Answer: (B)

A botnet is a network of compromised computers that are under centralized control by a malicious actor. Each infected machine becomes a bot (or zombie) that can receive commands through a command-and-control channel, allowing the attacker to coordinate actions across all the bots as if they were one fleet. This description fits best because it emphasizes the collaboration of many machines working together under a single operator. A single infected computer by itself isn’t a botnet; it’s just a bot. A network of trusted servers isn’t what a botnet refers to, since botnets rely on compromised devices rather than legitimate, trusted infrastructure. A firewall is a protective measure, not a set of compromised devices controlled by an attacker. Botnets are commonly used for activities like distributed denial of service, spam campaigns, or spreading malware, making the concept important for understanding cyber threats and defense.

A botnet is a network of compromised computers that are under centralized control by a malicious actor. Each infected machine becomes a bot (or zombie) that can receive commands through a command-and-control channel, allowing the attacker to coordinate actions across all the bots as if they were one fleet.

This description fits best because it emphasizes the collaboration of many machines working together under a single operator. A single infected computer by itself isn’t a botnet; it’s just a bot. A network of trusted servers isn’t what a botnet refers to, since botnets rely on compromised devices rather than legitimate, trusted infrastructure. A firewall is a protective measure, not a set of compromised devices controlled by an attacker.

Botnets are commonly used for activities like distributed denial of service, spam campaigns, or spreading malware, making the concept important for understanding cyber threats and defense.