Botnet

A botnet is a collection of many malware ✕ Malware (from "malicious software") is the umbrella term for any harmful software — viruses, trojans, ransomware, spyware — that damages, spies on, or hijacks devices. More in the glossary → -infected devices (computers, routers, smart devices) that an attacker controls centrally and remotely. The individual "bots" are used — usually without their owners' knowledge — in a coordinated way for attacks: mass spam ✕ Spam is unwanted bulk messages, usually by email — often advertising, but sometimes a carrier for phishing or malware. More in the glossary → , DDoS ✕ In a DDoS attack, many devices flood a server with requests at once until it's overloaded and becomes unreachable. More in the glossary → attacks, or spreading more malware. The bigger the botnet, the more powerful. Your device becomes part of a botnet through an infection. You're protected by an up-to-date system and a good antivirus ✕ An antivirus is a program that detects, blocks and removes malicious software. Modern ones combine known signatures with behavior analysis. More in the glossary → . More in the best antivirus comparison.