Botnets

A botnet is a network of computers, or "bots," that are maliciously infected with malware that allows them to be controlled as part of a network. Botnets are used to infect other networks or systems, to launch malicious email (spam), and to conduct distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. Bots have the ability to cause significant harm by limiting access to functions or enabling the covert communications of rogue actors.

Botnets generally leverage computers without the knowledge of the owner, using the computers to increase the capacity of the botnet to wreck damages. As with other networks, botnets can operate using several different configurations, including peer-to-peer, hierarchical, or hub and spoke. Botnets operate under the command and control of a lead or central computer.