Botnets

Overview

The term "Botnet" is generally used to refer to a group of infected computers (sometimes referred to as Zombie computers) running malicious software in the background.

The group of infected computers is controlled by a common command-and-control (C&C) design of the Botnet’s originator sometimes called a Bot master.

Typically a Botnet has anywhere from several hundred to several thousand remote controlled computers (Bots). Some of the largest Botnets have over 1 million infected computers within their command and control.

It has been estimated that more than 1 out of every 4 computers on the Internet is either a part of a Botnet or at risk of becoming one.

Botnet Threats to PC Security

Once a computer is infected with Bot code, the Bot may perform malicious activity without the user’s knowledge or permission. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Installation of Adware and Spyware without user's permission
• Loss of confidential data and information:
  • Spyware software such as a Keylogger controlled by the Bot master steals information about the user such as user id and password and other confidential data
  • The infected computer is used to send out thousands of commercial email messages (e.g., pornography or advertisement) without the user’s permission or awareness
• Perpetrate click fraud (i.e., visit websites without the users’ awareness or permission to create false web traffic for purpose of commercial gain)

Securing Your PC Against Botnets

Botnets can often bypass conventional defenses such as signature-based antivirus or anti-malware programs installed on consumer PCs. The best protection against the threat of sophisticated Botnets is a behavior-based anti-malware solution.

How NovaShield Can Protect Your PC from a Botnet

NovaShield Anti-Malware is a next generation behavior-based, signature-less technology. NovaShield can detect and remove Botnets. NovaShield knows exactly what files and registry items were created by the Botnet and can remove these by-products in addition to removing the threat itself.