It’s almost like science fiction, but it’s tech reality. Imagine this: a criminal mastermind takes control of a multitude of otherwise-innocuous computers turning them into a network of automated bots. This army of zombie computers, or botnet, launches concerted attacks on servers, websites, or devices. They may gain control over or infect other computers, steal data, spy on victims, send out spam or phishing messages, or simply bombard victim networks to the point where they can no longer function.
This is pretty much the botnet definition but we can simplify by saying that a botnet is a network of devices that have been infected with malware, allowing them to be controlled from a single point under the direction of a bot herder or botmaster. Botnets are most commonly used for spam or DDoS attacks. Needless to say, the intent is malicious and botnets represent a significant cyber security threat.
Botnet Examples
Botnets have been around since the early 2000s, and they continue to advance. Recent examples include a mysterious 2023 attack from a botnet dubbed “Pumpkin Eclipse.” It attacked a US internet service provider’s customers that destroyed around 600,000 routers, leaving users with no option other than to replace them. Nobody knows who was behind this extremely costly and destructive attack.
In February 2024, top UK universities were impacted by a botnet attack targeting a high-speed data sharing network used by several universities including Cambridge and the University of Manchester. A Sudanese “hacktivist” group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that it had been launched as a protest against UK support for Israeli activities in Gaza.
Botnet attacks can cause direct financial loss, particularly when credentials or personal information are stolen for fraudulent use. But even when the botnet owner doesn’t seem to benefit in person, botnet attacks can be extremely costly.
For example, with online infrastructure down, businesses may lose sales to competitors while in-house systems are inoperable. Combatting attacks and conducting forensic analysis after the fact when data breaches occur are costly too. And, if your organisation must alert parties affected by data theft, reputational harm can cause untold financial damage.
Botnets for Hire
Botnets for hire add a disturbing perspective to the botnet landscape. Cybercriminals needn’t even create their own botnets when they can hire a ready-made one. A famous example of this is EMOTET which was taken down through a Europe-wide police collaboration in 2021. Its malicious software began as a banking Trojan and later evolved into a botnet-for-hire with a very large user base. Devices were added to its network through infected email attachments ranging from “invoices” to health information factsheets during the pandemic.
EMOTET is no more, but botnets for hire are still with us. For example, cybercriminals can use a botnet named Faceless consisting of an estimated 40,000 hijacked devices. The price is said to be low – as little as a dollar a day. The implications are worrying. With just about anyone being able to gain access to botnets, the threat of attacks is greater than ever.
How Does Botnet Malware Spread?
The devices used in botnet attacks are often, themselves, victims of malware attacks. Their owners may never realise that their devices have become part of a “zombie army.” Attackers infect and take control of devices by exploiting vulnerabilities, often in overlooked items such as IoT devices.
Typically, they exploit devices with outdated software, infect devices through phishing emails, or use “drive-by-downloads” that are automatically added to devices used to visit infected websites. Still using default credentials on your device? It’s a prime target for botnet recruitment. And, of course, using that seemingly innocuous USB device could see your computer being press ganged into a botnet.
Why are Botnets Hard to Take Down?
Botnets pose a major headache for authorities, even when they know that they are active. That’s partly because of the sheer number of infected devices that most botnets use. And, because the owners of these devices usually don’t know that they are participating in botnet attacks, collateral damage to innocent users can occur.
Going after the kingpins or bot herders isn’t easy either. They protect themselves by decentralising, distributing their Command and Control (C&C) servers, often to locations around the world. If law enforcement agencies locate one access point, it’s very unlikely that shutting it down will disable the entire botnet.
Adding to the difficulty of taking down botnets, their creators have built resilience into their systems. They may use fast-flux DNS or domain generated algorithms (DGAs) as well as peer-to-peer communication to protect their botnets from attempts at disruption.
And, of course, cybercriminals are constantly evolving new ways to avoid malware detection, changing their methods and the vulnerabilities they exploit and actively working to counter security measures.
How to Know If Your Device is Part of A Botnet
The Risks of Unknowingly Becoming Part of Botnet
It’s not just the networks that are attacked by botnets that are at risk. If your device has been made part of one, you aren’t safe either. Apart from not wanting your device to be involved in illegal activities, you also face the risk of data theft and privacy breaches. This could lead to direct financial loss through fraud, or you might fall victim to a ransomware attack.
Distributing malware is among the things botnet devices do – and yours could be among them. As a result, you might inadvertently participate in the spread of malware, find that your device has been used to launch an attack, or open a path to recruit other devices that become part of the botnet.
Potentially as damaging, there’s a risk that your device could be linked to illegal activities. Needless to say, that will impact your personal and professional reputation – and you may even find yourself under investigation from authorities.
Signs That Your Device is Part of A Botnet
If you’re alert, you might be able to spot the signs that your device has become part of a botnet. You may notice unusual network activity. Your device may slow to a crawl as malware consumes system resources. You may notice unusual changes to your browser settings, see more pop-up windows than usual, or find that applications are being launched without your intervention.
If you notice that your security software is being disabled or it alerts you to malicious activity, you should be concerned. If you were to check your outbound connections on an infected device, you’re sure to find unexplained ones that are being used to communicate with Command and Control devices, whether directly or indirectly. And, since you’re infected by malware, you might spot other oddities. For example, if there’s an uptick in unsolicited emails and messages, often with attachments, there’s cause for concern.
What to Do If You Suspect a Malware Infection
Malware is always bad news, and if you’ve spotted any of the signs we listed above, it’s time to take urgent action. Begin by disconnecting your device from the internet and isolate it from offline networks.
If you work with a cyber security professional, now is the time to contact them. They will identify and remove the malware, implementing security measures that will protect your device from future infections. In worst case scenarios, they may even have to reinstall your operating system, checking backed up files to ensure that they are not infected.
How to Protect Yourself From Botnets
You can protect yourself from becoming part of a botnet by being alert and implementing security measures. These include:
- Keeping your software up-to-date and deleting any software you rarely use.
- Use antivirus software and monitor it to ensure it isn’t being disabled.
- Enable firewalls and configure them for optimal security.
- Be extra careful about clicking on links and opening email attachments even if they come from someone you know. If you receive unexpected links and attachments from someone you know, consider contacting the sender to make sure they’re legitimate.
- Use strong passwords and change them at intervals.
- Implement two factor authentication for all online accounts.
- Make sure you have a secure home network, especially if you use it for business purposes. For example, don’t leave default passwords in place.
- Monitor networks for unusual or suspicious activity and block traffic that may be malicious. If you have the right software, it will do this automatically.
- Stay up-to-date on cyber security risks and know how to spot them and avoid them.
- Back up your files so that you can recover them easily – but remember to use a cybersecurity professional to check them out before you do so.
What to Do if Your Organisation Faces a DDoS Botnet Attack
Signs of a DDoS Botnet Attack
If your organisation is being targeted by a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack using a botnet, the influx of traffic will be apparent. You’ll notice unusually high volumes of traffic with abnormal traffic patterns. Your systems will become sluggish or unresponsive. Your server logs will indicate unusual activity like repeated connection attempts from the same IP address or an overloaded network.
Aside from this, DDoS attacks may target your network itself. Your routers, switches, and DNS servers may be attacked, leading to network outages.
If you’re using DDoS protection services and attack detection services, you’ll receive notifications that warn you of the attack.
What to Do if You Suspect a DDoS Botnet Attack in Progress
If you suspect an attack or have been warned of one, begin by contacting cyber security professionals. If you have them, activate your DDoS attack mitigation services. If you, or your IT consultants, have the right skills, they can configure your network to block or reduce the DDoS botnet attack, keeping your services available to legitimate users.
Scale up your infrastructure if possible, adding extra server capacity, bandwidth, or resources to absorb the excess traffic and keep your systems from crashing. Your ISP can also be of help, filtering traffic and limiting upstream traffic. Alert them to your issue and request assistance.
With the right know-how, you can continue monitoring network traffic looking for any changes in the attack pattern. And, if all else fails, you can resort to Black Hole Routing that targets specific IP addresses and subnets. This effectively redirects suspicious traffic to a null route, preventing it from affecting your network.
Countering the attack is only the beginning. Once you’ve done so, review your current response plan by conducting a post-incident analysis. Look for areas for improvement and apply them to your DDoS mitigation strategies.
Concerned About Botnet Malware? Partner With Advantex
Botnet malware threats are best countered before they rear their heads. This entails staying abreast of the latest threats, implementing network security solutions, endpoint protection, and email and web security measures.
Your cyber security company should offer botnet attack protection and security awareness training that guides employees to make informed choices in their online behaviour. And, in the event of a botnet attack, continuous monitoring and threat hunting should identify threats, triggering effective incident response services.
Contact us today! It pays to be proactive about cyber security, and with Advantex’s cybersecurity services on your side, you’ll have access to advanced technologies and a partner that works to keep your business safe from botnets and other security threats. Stay safe with us!
