Botnet is the name given to a collection of compromised computers controlled by hackers. These groups can number in the millions and are most often used to send spam. They control the computers via a malcious piece of software called a trojan horse. Computers become infected when users are tricked into clicking on malicious links in emails and on websites.Botnets are responsible for almost all spam sent today. Most of that spam carries a malicious payload, which is usually a trojan horse designed to add any computer it's downloaded to to the botnet. In some cases it also contacts a remote server and downloads even more malware which searches for any personal info on the hard drive and sends it back to the attackers. Among the most well known botnets are Storm, named after the headline it used on the first wave of spam it sent out.(At the time, Europe was experiencing very severe weather),Rustock and Srizbi.
All of them contain millions of compromised computers, and none of their owners even realize it. They are the top 3 botnets in the world right now and responsible for almost all the spam we get. Despite that, there are new botnets forming every day. A recent one formed after the Georgia/Russian conflict, and it sends out decidedly pro-Russian spam.How can you keep your computer from being sucked into a botnet? It's actually easier than you think. Never ever click on a link in an email, especially any from someone you don't know inviting you to watch a video about an alleged breaking news story. Keep your anti-virus software up to date, and most of all, use common sense. If it sounds suspicious or "off" it most likely is!
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